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HISTORY 


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HISTORY 


OF  THE 


2  yth  Regiment  N.Y.Vols. 


(Badge  of  the  First  Division,    Sixth   Corps.} 

BEING  A  RECORD  OF  ITS   MORE  THAN  Two  YEARS  OF 

SERVICE  IN  THE  WAR  FOR  THE  UNION,  FROM 

MAY  2  ist,  1 86 1,  TO  MAY  3ist,  1863. 

WITH  A  COMPLETE  ROSTER,  AND  SHORT  SKETCHES  OF 
COMMANDING  OFFICERS. 

ALSO,  A   RECORD   OF   EXPERIENCE  AND  SUFFERING  OF 

SOME  OF  THE  COMRADES  IN  LlBBY  AND 

OTHER  REBEL  PRISONS. 


Compiled  by  C.  B.  FAIRCHILD,  of  Company  "D. 


Published  under   the  direction  of  the  following  Committee  : 
GEN.   H.  W.   SLOCUM.  CAPT.  C.  A.  WELLS. 

Carl  &=  Matthews,   Printers,  Binghamton,  N.    Y. 

t-«  I  o  O  D  « 


Entered  according  to  A  ct  of  Congress,  in  the  year  /<£?<?,  by 

C.  B.  FAIRCHILD, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


TO    THE 

COMRADES  OF  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT, 

WHO    FELL    WHILE    IN    THE    LINE    OF    DUTY, 

IS  THIS  VOLUME   SACREDLY  DEDICATED, 

BY    THE 

SURVIVORS'    ASSOCIATION, 

AS    A   TESTIMONY    TO    THEIR 

HEROISM    ON    THE    FIELD    OF    BATTLE, 

AND    THEIR 

SACRIFICE  FOR  THE  PRESERVATION  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 


M157153 


THE  official  accounts  of  battles  arc  all  wonderfully  alike, 
dealing  with  bodies  and  masses  of  men,  and  not  with  in 
dividual  hopes,  aspirations  and  fears.  We  read  about  march 
ing  and  flanking  and  enfilading ;  but  when  we  go  behind 
these  terms,  and  ask  what  the  individual  soldier  in  the  ranks 
is  thinking  or  doing  or  suffering,  the  story  is  too  light  to  be 
included  in  an  official  report,  and  too  unimportant  for  the 
dignity  of  general  history  ;  and  yet,  it  is  this  unwritten  his 
tory  of  the  war  that  gives  any  true  estimate  of  the  price 
that  was  paid  to  save  our  nation.  This  history  is  designed 
to  give  more  of  individual  and  personal  experience  ;  not 
claiming  that  this  regiment  acted  the  most  important  part 
in  the  late  wrar,  but  to  show  that  its  members  offered  them 
selves  a  willing  sacrifice  in  the  service  of  their  country,  and 
at  no  time  did  they  withhold  the  best  they  had  to  give. 
Years  have  elapsed  since  we  left  the  "  lines  and  tented 
fields,"  but  time  cannot  erase  from  memory  recollections  of 
those  eventful  days  in  which  the  Twenty-Seventh  New 
York,  by  its  heroism  and  zeal,  helped  to  preserve  the  unity 
of  the  best  and  freest  government  ever  established  by  man. 
The  fact  that  they  were  actors  in  the  great  struggle,  and  a 
constituent  element  of  the  grandest  army  the  world  ever 
saw,  engaged  in  the  grand  work  of  saving  the  Citadel  of 
Freedom,  makes  them  take  a  noteworthy  pride  in  offering 
to  history  the  following  record,  which  is  made  up  chiefly 
from  private  diaries,  personal  experience  and  general  orders, 
as  these  tend  to  show  the  esteem  in  which  the  regiment  was 
held  by  commanding  officers. 

Our  trust  in  the  future  of  the  country  rests  in  the  bravery, 
integrity  and  virtue  of  the  men  who  fought  for  it.  They 
have  brought  back  the  old  flag,  "  its  white  as  bright  as 
angels'  robes,  and  its  stars  GOD'S  stars,  as  truly  as  are  the 
stars  in  the  canopy  of  heaven." 


VI  PREFACE. 


For  this,  let  not  our  people  fail  to  recognize  their  duty 
to  the  returned  soldiers,  and  to  the  families  of  those  who 
can  never  return,  lest  they  repudiate  a  part,  and  one  of  the 
most  sacred  parts  of  the  national  debt. 


Thanks  are  due  for  the  information  furnished  for  the  fol 
lowing  record,  to — 

H.  W.   SLOCUM,  JOSEPH   J.  BARTLETT, 

C.  C.  GARDINER,  CHARLES  A.  WELLS, 

W.  B.  WESTERVELT,  ERI  S.  WATSON, 

Jos.  L.  Ross,  C.  B.   FAIRCHILD. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  election  of  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  in  1860,  was  made 
the  pretext  and  signal  in  the  South  for  open  defiance 
of  the  authority  of  the  Federal  Government.  Mutterings, 
even  threats  of  secession  had  been  heard  before  the  elec 
tion,  and  were  generally  treated  as  the  grumblings  incident 
to  an  anticipated  defeat,  especially  as  a  majority  of  such 
expressions  of  discontent  came  from  the  State  of  South 
Carolina,  which  was  proverbially  hot-headed.  Now,  how 
ever,  meetings  were  held  in  that  and  other  Cotton  States, 
declaring  for  Southern  independence,  and  "  minute  men  " 
were  being  mustered.  Startling  events  followed  each  other 
rapidly,  until,  on  December  2Oth,  1860,  South  Carolina 
passed  "  An  ordinance  to  dissolve  the  union  between  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  and  other  states  united  with  her, 
under  the  compact  entitled  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  of  America."  This  action  was,  soon  after,  followed 
by  the  seizure  of  the  arsenal  and  other  government  prop 
erty  at  Charleston.  On  the  I2th  of  April,  1861,  the  North 
ern  States  were  astounded  and  shocked  by  the  news  which 
was  flashed  over  the  wires,  that  Fort  Sumpter  was  being 
bombarded.  The  so-called  secession  of  the  State  from  the 
Union,  followed  by  the  same  action  on  the  part  of  other 
Southern  States,  had  been  regarded  with  indifference  by 
many,  and  the  public  heart  seemed  almost  insensible  to  the 
great  peril  which  threatened  to  sunder  the  republic.  But 
the  news  from  Sumpter  awoke  unwonted  echoes,  and  touched 
the  patriotic  chords  in  the  great  American  heart.  The 
loyalty,  which  had  been  doubted,  sprang  into  instant  life, 
and  throughout  the  North,  expressions  of  deep  devotion 
and  promise  of  unlimited  aid  were  borne  on  the  wings  of 
lightning  to  the  Nation's  capital.  The  mighty  heart  of  the 
people  seemed  to  pulsate  with  patriotism  and  love  of  the 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

government,  which  had  been  founded  and  maintained  by 
the  blood  of  our  fathers.  The  world  never  witnessed  an 
uprising  as  mighty,  as  spontaneous,  and  as  glorious  as  that 
which  now  occurred.  On  April  I5th,  the  following  procla 
mation  was  issued  by  President  LINCOLN: 

Bv  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
A   PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS,  The  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been  for  some  time  past, 
and  now  are  opposed,  and  the  execution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the  States 
of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana, 
and  Texas,  by  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary 
course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  the  powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by 
law  : 

Now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United  States, 
by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitution  and  the  laws, 
have  thought  fit  to  call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call  forth  the  militia  of  the 
several  States  of  the  Union,  to  the  aggregate  of  seventy-five  thousand,  in 
order  to  suppress  said  combinations,  and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly 
executed. 

The  details  of  this  object  will  be  immediately  communicated  to  the 
State  authorities  by  the  War  Department. 

I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facilitate,  and  aid  this  effort  to 
maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity,  and  the  existence  of  our  National 
Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular  government,  and  to  redress  wrongs 
already  long  enough  endured. 

I  deem  it  proper  to  say,  that  the  first  service  assigned  to  the  forces 
hereby  called  forth  will  probably  be  to  repossess  the  forts,  places  and 
property  which  have  been  seized  from  the  Union  ;  and  in  every  event  the 
utmost  care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with  the  object  aforesaid,  to 
avoid  an}-  devastation  of  or  interference  with  property,  or  any  disturbance 
of  peaceful  citizens  in  any  part  of  the  country. 

And  I  hereby  command  the  persons  composing  the  combinations  afore 
said  to  disperse,  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respective  abodes,  within 
twenty  days  of  this  date. 

Deeming  the  present  condition  of  public  affairs  presents  an  extraor 
dinary  occasion,  I  do  hereby,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the 
Constitution,  convene  both  Houses  of  Congress.  Senators  and  Repre 
sentatives  are,  therefore,  summoned  to  assemble  at  their  respective  cham- 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

bers,  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  on  Thursday,  the  4th  day  of  July  next,  then 
and  there  to  consider  and  determine  such  measures  as,  in  their  wisdom 
the  public  safety  and  interest  may  seem  to  demand. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal 
of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  fifteenth  da}'  of  April,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

By  the  President  : 

WILLIAM  H.   SEWARD,   Secretary  of  State. 

Simultaneously  with  the  above  proclamation,  calls  for 
troops  were  made  upon  the  States, — the  Governor  of  New 
York,  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  being  requested  to  immediately 
furnish  the  quota  designated  for  the  State  of  New  York, 
to  wit,  seventeen  regiments.  On  April  i6th,  the  two  bodies 
of  the  Legislature,  then  in  session  at  Albany,  passed  an  Act 
"  To  authorize  the  embodying  and  equipment  of  a  Volun 
teer  Militia,  and  to  provide  for  the  public  defence."  This 
bill  provided  for  the  enrollment  of  thirty  thousand  volunteer 
militia,  to  serve  for  two  years  ;  and  appropriated  three  mil 
lions  of  dollars  to  meet  the  expense.  Governor  Morgan 
issued  a  proclamation,  on  the  i8th,  citing  the  President's 
requisition,  and  calling  for  seventeen  regiments,  to  consist 
of  649  officers,  and  12,631  men;  forming  an  aggregate  of 
13,280;  the  rendezvous  for  the  State  being  designated  as 
New  York,  Albany  and  Elmira,  with  headquarters  at  Albany. 
Afterwards  (on  April  25th)  the  Governor  issued  his  procla 
mation  for  twenty-one  other  regiments  of  volunteers,  which, 
with  the  first  seventeen,  made  up  the  complement  of  volun 
teers  under  the  State  act  providing  for  30,000.  These  first 
thirty-eight  regiments  were  the  only  troops  from  New  York 
State  mustered  for  the  term  of  two  years. 


THE   27th   Regiment  (Infantry)  N.  Y.  Volunteers  was 
organized  at  Elmira,  on  the  2ist  of  May,  1861.     It  was 
composed  of  companies,  recruited  and  accepted  as  follows, 


Company. 

Where  Recruited. 

By  Whom  Recruited. 

Date  of  Acceptance. 

A. 

White  Plains. 

Capt.  Jos.  J.  Chambers. 

April  30,  1861. 

B. 

Lyons. 

Capt.  Alex.  D.  Adams. 

May  2,  1861. 

C. 

Binghamton. 

Capt.  Jos.  J.  Bartlett. 

May  2,  1861. 

D. 

Binghamton. 

Capt.  Hiram  C.  Rogers. 

May  2,  1861. 

E. 

Rochester. 

Capt.  Geo.  G.  Wanzer. 

May  7,  1861. 

F. 

Binghamton. 

Capt.  Peter  Jay. 

May  8,  1861. 

G. 

Lima. 

Capt.  James  Perkins. 

May  7,  1861. 

H. 

Mount  Morris. 

Capt.  Chas.  E.  Martin. 

May  n,  i-86  1. 

I. 

Angelica. 

Capt.  Curtis  C.  Gardiner. 

May  13,  1861. 

K. 

Albion. 

Capt.  Henry  L.  Achilles,  Jr. 

May  16,  1861. 

The  companies  were  organized  into  a  regiment  by  Gen 
eral  VanValkenburgh,  when  the  following  field  officers  were 
elected,  viz.:  Henry  W.  Slocum,  Colonel;  Joseph  J.  Cham 
bers,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Joseph  J.  Bartlett,  Major.  The 
State  Military  Board  confirmed  the  election  on  the  2ist  of 
May,  by  General  Order  No.  208,  and  the  regiment  was  ac 
cepted,  and  numbered  "  27  ;"  and  Colonel  Slocum  was  di 
rected  to  report  for  duty,  and  hold  his  regiment  in  readiness 
to  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 


COL.  HENRY  W.  SLOCUM. 


IN   CAMP   AT   ELMIRA.  3 

At  one  of  the  recent  reunions,  Gen.  Slocum  explained 
some  of  the  incidents  which  led  to  his  election  as  Colonel 
of  the  27th.  Being  a  West  Point  graduate,  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  Governor  of  the  State,  who  asked  him  to 
remain  and  assist  him  in  Albany.  This  he  declined,  and 
went  to  Elmira  at  the  request  of  some  officers,  who  talked 
of  making  him  Colonel  of  their  regiment  ;  but  he  found 
so  much  wire-pulling,  and  was  requested  to  make  certain 
pledges,  that  he  left  Elmira  in  disgust,  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Syracuse.  But  he  soon  received  a  telegram  from 
some  other  company  officers,  asking  him  to  return  to  Elmira. 
He  did  'so,  and  was  unanimously  elected  Colonel  of  the 
27th,  without  any  pledges,  although  he  was  a  total  stranger 
to  every  one  of  the  officers.  That  he  proved  to  be  the 
right  man  for  the  place,  was  fully  shown  by  the  subsequent 
history  of  the  regiment. 

While  in  camp  at  Elmira,  the  regiment  took  the  name  of 
"  Union  Regiment,"  because  the  companies  comprising  it, 
having  been  recruited  from  seven  different  counties,  were 
united  in  one  regiment,  by  their  own  choice. 

Some  of  these  companies  had  been  in  Elmira  since  the 
8th  of  May,  and  had  been  practicing  in  the  school  of  the 
soldier,  and  in  company  drill.  They  had  been  quartered  in 
vacant  buildings  at  different  places  about  the  town,  till  about 
the  time  the  regiment  was  organized,  when  the  companies 
moved  from  their  several  headquarters  into  barracks,  that 
had  been  built  of  rough  boards,  at  Southport,  across  the 
river  from  Elmira.  Here  the  duties  of  a  soldier  were  for 
the  first  time  fully  assumed  :  such  as  guard  duty,  dress  pa 
rade,  battalion  drill,— varied,  between  times,  with  a  drill  not 
laid  down  in  Hardie's  Tactics — picking  stone  from  the  rocky 
ridge,  and  grading  the  parade  ground.  This  caused  a  great 
deal  of  grumbling;  but  a  greater  dissatisfaction  existed 
over  the  rations  furnished  by  the  government  contractor. 
The  men  of  Co.  "  E  "  were  the  first  to  make  demonstrations 
to  show  their  disgust  with  the  fare ;  and  one  day  they 
claimed  it  was  necessary  to  imprison  the  beef,  to  keep  it 
from  walking  off.  So  they  conceived  the  idea  of  holding  a 


4        RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

funeral  over  it.  They  nailed  a  large  piece  strongly  in  a  box, 
and,  to  the  tune  of  "  The  Rogue's  March,"  proceeded  to  inter 
it  with  the  honors  of  war.  A.  W.  Tourgee  (since,  the  noted 
author),  preached  the  funeral  sermon  ;  and  for  this  he  was 
severely  reprimanded  by  the  Colonel.  On  June  1st,  the 
dinner  was  so  bad  that  some  of  the  companies,  after  being 
seated  in  long  rows  beside  the  rough  board  tables,  led  off 
by  Companies  "  D  "  and  "  B,"  in  answer  to  a  pre-arranged 
signal,  kicked  over  the  tables,  and  sent  the  boards,  tin  plates, 
cups  and  steaming  soup,  flying  through  the  air !  "  That 
same  old  soup  never  appeared  again,"  and  that  night  wre 
had  a  good  supper  of  mush  and  milk. 

This  incident  gave  Colonel  Slocum  an  opportunity  to 
make  his  maiden  speech  to  the  regiment ;  for,  in  about  an 
hour,  the  "  long  roll  "  sounded,  the  line  was  formed  on  the 
parade  ground,  and  the  Colonel  told  the  boys,  "that,  so  long 
as  he  remained  in  command  of  the  regiment,  they  should 
have  what  the  government  intended  them  to  have,  and  it 
should  be  served  in  palatable  style ;  that  no  contractor 
should  fill  his  pockets  at  the  expense  of  the  stomachs  of 
his  men."  After  this,  the  Colonel  was  frequently  seen  about 
the  cook-house,  giving  directions  as  to  the  quality  of  food, 
and  how  the  cooking  should  be  done.  From  this  time  on, 
everything  was  in  apple-pie  order,  and  Col.  Slocum  was 
idolized.  But  after  the  boys  reached  the  front,  occasions 
were  frequent  when  they  would  gladly  have  accepted  sim 
ilar  rations  without  "  kicking." 

On  the  3d  of  June,  Daniel  S.  Dickinson,  from  Bingham- 
ton,  rode  into  camp,  and,  about  7  o'clock,  made  a  rousing 
speech  to  the  regiment,  which  was  received  with  hearty 
cheers. 

June  4th,  after  the  regular  drills,  we  had  a  good  supper, 
with  bread  and  butter  and  cake,  which  had  been  presented 
to  the  Colonel  by  the  ladies  of  Syracuse, — Mrs.  Slocum  and 
several  of  the  ladies  gracing  the  table  with  their  presence. 
The  boys  gave  three  cheers  for  the  ladies,  and  had  a  jolly 
time. 

June  7th,  there  was  a  fine  regimental  drill  in  the  fore- 


BIG    ROW   WITH   THE    33!).  5 

noon,  and  the  men  were  practiced  in  the  manoeuvers  of 
street  fighting. 

The  same  routine  of  daily  drill,  of  about  eight  hours  a 
day,  continued  without  incident  till  the  I2th,  on  which  date 
there  were  two  memorable  events.  The  first  was,  drum 
ming  a  deserter  out  of  camp  ;  and  the  second,  the  boys  had 
a  big  row  with  the  33d  Regiment,  which  was  camped  near  by. 
It  seems  that  one  of  our  boys,  Gibson  Dunn,  of  Co.  "  B," 
while  intoxicated,  had  shown  some  disrespect  to  Col.  R.  F. 
Taylor,  of  the  33d  or  "  Ontario  Regiment,"  for  which  he  had 
been  arrested  and  confined  in  the  guard  house  of  the  33d. 
This  enraged  the  2/th  boys,  and  in  the  evening  they  went 
in  a  body  to  make  an  attack  on  the  guard  house,  and  release 
their  comrade.  Their  advance  was  resisted  by  the  33d,  and 
soon  the  two  regiments  were  in  battle  array,  armed  with 
cobble  stones ;  and  began  to  entrench  themselves  behind 
windrows  of  stones.  With  great  difficulty  the  few  officers 
in  camp  prevented  an  attack  till  word  could  be  sent  to  the 
Colonel,  who  was  quartered  in  the  city.  He  soon  arrived 
on  the  ground  ;  the  "  long  roll  "  was  ordered  ;  and  about 
ten  o'clock  the  regiment  was  formed  in  hollow  square,  and, 
though  it  was  pitch  dark,  the  Colonel  made  one  of  his  tell 
ing  speeches,  and  assured  the  men  that  their  comrade  should 
be  released.  This  cooled  the  boys  somewhat,  and  good  feel 
ing  was  restored.  In  the  meantime  Dunn  had  made  his 
escape  from  the  guard  house,  by  removing  a  board  from  the 
roof.  This  same  evening  the  first  prayer-meeting  was  held 
in  the  camp,  many  of  the  comrades  leaving  the  meeting  to 
take  part  in  this  their  first  fight. 

On  the  1 5th,  the  regiment  was  moved  from  Southport  to 
the  barracks  on  the  Fair  Ground.  These  barracks  after 
wards  became  noted  as  the  place  of  confinement  for  Con 
federate  prisoners. 

On  the  25th,  the  men  of  the  Union  Regiment  received 
their  first  pay,  it  being  for  twenty  days'  service  previous  to 
the  2 ist  of  May;  in  amount,  $8.60. 

On  the  29th,  we  received  our  equipments ;  and  as  we 
dressed  ourselves  in  blue,  and  took  charge  of  our  guns, 


6        RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  V.  VOLS. 

knapsacks,  haversacks  and  canteens,  we  realized  more  fully 
than  ever  that  we  were  no  longer  citizens,  but  soldiers, 
ready  to  enter  the. service  of  the  government. 

Sunday,  June  3Oth,  divine  service  was  held  in  camp,  when 
the  Chaplain,  D.  D.  Buck,  preached  his  first  sermon  to  the 
regiment.  From  this  time  till  after  the  4th  of  July,  many 
of  the  men  were  allowed  to  go  to  their  homes  on  furlough. 

On  the  5th,  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  U.  S. 
service  for  two  years  from  the  2 1st  day  of  May,  1861,  by 
Capt.  Sitgraves,  U.  S.  A.  Seven  men  refused  to  take  the 
oath,  and  were  discharged  and  sent  home.  About  this  time 
one  of  the  Corporals  in  Co.  "A,"  who  had  been  sent  to 
arrest  some  men  in  one  of  the  low  dives  of  the  city,  was 
murdered.  His  body  was  recovered  and  sent  to  his  home 
in  White  Plains,  under  an  escort  from  his  Company. 

The  officers  of  the  2/th,  being  gentlemen  of  manly  and 
gallant  bearing,  were  cordially  received  into  the  best  society 
at  Klmira  ;  a  circumstance  which  led  those  of  other  regi 
ments  who  had  been  less  favored,  to  facetiously  christen 
the  "  Twenty-seventh  "  officers  as  the  "  Mutual  Admiration 
Society." 

On  the  morning  of  July  loth,  we  received  orders  to  leave 
Elmira  for  Washington  ;  and,  amid  uproar  and  enthusiasm, 
commenced  packing  up.  Almost  every  man  was  loaded 
with  useless  articles,  and  had  yet  to  learn  the  hardest  lesson 
of  the  soldier, — how  many  things  to  get  along  without. 

At  2  P.  M.  the  regiment  bid  the  barracks  good-by,  and 
marched  into  the  city.  After  a  short  parade  through  the 
streets,  the  cars  were  boarded,  and  at  4  P.  M.  moved  out  on 
the  Northern  Central  road,  amid  the  waving  of  handker 
chiefs  and  the  cheers  of  assembled  thousands.  It  rained 
all  the  way  to  Williamsport,  Pa.,  where  we  arrived  about 
9  i\  M.  Here  the  ladies  had  prepared  a  fine  supper  for  us, 
and  we  left  the  cars  to  find  a  grand  entertainment.  Tables 
had  been  spread  in  the  square  near  the  depot,  and  the  pa 
triotic  ladies  were  out  in  force  to  give  the  boys  one  good 
meal,  and  bid  them  a  hearty  God-speed  as  they  set  their 
faces  toward  the  South.  This  entertainment  was  one  of 


TRIP   TO   WASHINGTON.  7 

the  bright  spots  in  the  history  of  the  regiment ;  and  there 
were  many  expressions  of  admiration  for  our  fair  hostesses. 
One  comrade,  at  least,  was  so  much  impressed  with  the 
kindness  of  these  ladies  that  he  asked  the  privilege  of  writ 
ing  to  one  of  them  ;  and,  months  afterward,  he  applied  for 
a  furlough,  returned  to  Williamsport,  and  married  his  fair 
entertainer. 

About  10  o'clock  we  returned  to  the  cars,  and  rode  all 
night,  getting  but  little  sleep.  In  the  morning  we  found 
ourselves  opposite  the  City  of  Harrisburg,  where  we  re 
mained  about  an  hour.  It  was  a  beautiful  morning,  and 
from  our  position,  looking  across  the  Susquehanna,  we  had 
a  grand  view  of  the  city,  and  the  dome  of  Pennsylvania's 
Capitol,  towering  above  the  structures  of  the  city.  Here 
the  train  was  divided,  and  we  ran  slowly  on  through  a 
splendid  country,  especially  about  York,  Pa.,  where  we 
passed  immense  fields  of  wheat,  corn  and  rye.  Here  the 
farming  lands  are  excellent  ;  large  and  beautiful  houses ; 
with  a  degree  of  thrift  that  but  few  of  the  men  had  ever 
seen  before.  After  crossing  the  Maryland  line,  we  found 
soldiers  quartered  at  every  bridge  on  the  road  ;  and  as  we 
approach  Baltimore,  the  track  is  being  guarded  by  the  I2th 
Pennsylvania  Regiment.  The  people  do  not  welcome  us 
in  Maryland  as  they  did  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  is  not 
near  as  much  enthusiasm.  We  roll  into  Baltimore  in  fine 
shape,  where  we  left  the  cars,  formed  in  line,  and  having 
fixed  bayonets,  marched  through  the  city.  Some  of  the 
officers  proposed  that  the  men  should  load  their  pieces,  but 
Col.  Slocum,  thinking  it  a  useless  precaution,  did  not  order  it. 
The  streets  were  crowded  with  people  to  see  us.  There 
were  many  who  cheered  for  the  Union,  and  some  for  Jeff. 
Davis.  We  were  received  very  kindly  at  the  depot  where 
we  took  the  train,  and  were  soon  underway  for  Washington. 
We  halted  some  time  at  the  Rellay  House,  where  several 
regiments  of  New  York  troops  were  stationed.  Soon  after 
dark  Washington  was  reached,  and  we  were  marched  to  our 
quarters,  afterwards  named  Camp  Anderson,  on  Franklin 
Square,  a  splendid  place. 


8  RECORD   OF   27TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Before  leaving  Elmira,  Col.  Slocum  had  taken  the  pre 
caution  to  send  Lieut.-Col.  Chambers  on  to  Washington,  to 
provide  rations  for  the  men  when  we  should  arrive  there. 
But,  alas  !  when  we  reached  camp,  between  icand  1 1  o'clock 
at  night,  we  found  nothing  except  two  barrels  of  salt  pork  : 
so  we  had  to  go  to  bed  supperless,  filled  with  disgust  at  the 
officer  who  had  given  too  much  attention  to  refreshing  his 
own  inner  man,  to  the  neglect  of  his  weary  men. 

Sunday,  July  I4th,  we  had  company  drill  before  break 
fast,  and  preaching  service,  by  Chaplain  Buck,  at  10  o'clock. 
During  the  service  several  regiments,  that  had  been  ordered 
to  Virginia,  marched  past  our  camp,  on  their  way  to  the 
Long  Bridge  ;  and  the  Chaplain,  with  more  enthusiasm  than 
piety,  gave  out  a  hymn  ;  and  as  we  sang  the  chorus— 

"  Our  friends  are  passing  over, 
And,  just  before,  the  shining  shore 
We  may  almost  discover, "- 

He  waved  his  hand  in  the  direction  of  the  passing  troops. 

About  5  o'clock  we  had  battalion  drill  and  dress  parade. 
There  were  a  great  many  visitors  in  to  see  the  parade.  Pie 
peddlers  prosecuted  a  lively  trade,  as  the  boys  did  not  take 
kindly  to  salt  pork  and  hard  tack  ;  but  the  "  rag  pies,"  as 
the  boys  called  them,  did  not  agree  with  them  as  well  as 
the  government  rations  would  have  done. 

July  i  5th  :  Practiced  target  shooting  all  day,  in  a  vacant 
lot,  on  the  Georgetown  road,  about  a  mile  from  camp. 
Each  man  fired  twenty  rounds.  This  was  the  first  and 
only  target  practice  the  regiment  had  before  engaging  in 
its  first  battle. 

We  were  armed  with  the  smooth-bore,  muzzle-loading, 
government  gun,  known  as  the  Harper's  Ferry  Musket,  of 
58  caliber,  and  using  a  paper  cartridge,  which  the  men  had 
to  tear  open  with  their  teeth  before  loading.  The  gun  was 
fired  with  a  large  percussion  cap,  and  would  kick  about  as 
hard  as  a  government  mule.  One  man  declared,  after  com 
ing  out  of  battle,  "  that  his  gun  kicked  him  back  over  a  rail 
fence,  and  kicked  him  seven  times  after  he  was  down." 

Several  companies  received  recruits  after  coming  to 
Washington.  These  men  had  no  uniforms,  and  had  never 


ON   TO    RICHMOND.  9 

been  practiced   in  the  manual  of  arms  before  going  on  the 
march  to  our  first  battle. 

On  the  1 6th  of  July,  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
First  Brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  Andrew  Porter,  of  the 
i6th  U.  S.  Infantry;  in  the  Second  Division,  commanded 
by  Col.  David  Hunter,  of  the  Third  U.  S.  Cavalry;  in  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  commanded  by  Brigadier- 
General  Invin  McDowell. 

Hunter's  Division  was  composed  of  the  following  com 
mands  : 

Eighth  New  York  Militia,  Fourteenth  New  York  Militia, 
Twenty-Seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  a  Battalion  of 
U.  S.  Infantry,  Battalion  U.  S.  Marines,  Battalion  U.  S. 
Cavalry,  and  Battery  D  of  the  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery. 

About  noon  of  the  same  date  (the  i6th),  Hunter's  Di 
vision  received  orders  to  march.  Destination :  "  On  to 
Richmond !"  We  packed  up  and  left  about  3  o'clock. 
We  crossed  the  Long  Bridge, — and  so  found  ourselves  on 
the  sacred  soil  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Wre  passed  through 
the  fortifications  on  Arlington  Heights,  and  reached  the 
Alexandria  and  Manasses  R.  R.  about  6  o'clock.  At  Bail 
ey's  Cross  Roads  we  halted  for  supper.  Each  man  had 
been  supplied  with  two  loaves  of  bread  and  a  pound  of 
salt  pork.  W7e  could  hear  picket-firing  in  the  front, — when 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  load  their  muskets,  each  man 
having  been  supplied  with  forty  rounds  of  ammunition. 
The  route  continued  along  the  Little  River  Turnpike,  past 
the  fertile  plantations  of  the  Lees,  the  Balls,  Baileys,  and 
Arlingtons,  that  had  not  yet  felt  the  devastating  hand  of 
war,  but  were  destined  to  be  left  a  barren  waste, — from 
which  they  have  never  recovered.  We  marched  about 
twelve  miles,  and  about  10  P.  M.  went  into  camp,  on  the 
Annandale  hills,  near  the  main  army;  and  for  the  first  time 
slept  on  the  ground,  with  no  covering  except  our  blankets, 
not  having  been  supplied  with  tents.  We  rested  well,  and 
started  on  the  march  again  at  sunrise,  the  i/th,  taking  the 
road  to  Fairfax  Court  House.  The  march  was  a  slow  one, 
for  the  Rebels,  in  their  retreat,  had  felled  trees  across  the 


10  RECORD    OF   2;TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

road,  and  we  were  obliged  to  cut  them  out  before  we  could 
pass.  After  a  few  hours'  marching  at  "  route  step,"  we 
were  called  to  quick  time,  and  moved  by  platoons,  closed 
to  half  distance.  The  day  was  very  warm,  and  many  were 
prostrated  by  the  heat. 

Soon  our  mounted  rifles  and  cavalry  were  ordered  to  the 
front,  and,  as  they  moved  forward  at  a  gallop,  we  almost 
held  our  breath,  in  the  excitement  and  expectation  of  hear 
ing  them  open  fire  and  commence  an  engagement  ;  but  the 
enemy  retreated  on  their  approach,  with  but  a  few  scatter 
ing  shots  from  our  men.  We  then  marched  leisurely  on  ; 
and  the  fact  that  they  had  left  their  fires  burning,  and  other 
evidences  of  a  hasty  retreat,  made  some  of  the  men  think- 
that  the  Rebels  had  all  turned  back;  and  that  night  an 
officer,  passing  through  the  camp,  overheard  two  men  talk 
ing  about  the  probability  of  their  ever  seeing  a  battle.  One 
says  to  the  other:  "Now,  this  is  just  exactly  what  I  ex 
pected.  These  fellows  have  all  run  off,  and  we  are  never 
going  to  see  a  fight.  We  will  go  home  without  seeing  a 
fight,  sure." 

Others  were  not  so  sanguine  ;  for,  from  one  of  the  diaries, 
we  copy  the  following;  under  date  of  the  i^th:  "I  think 
we  shall  have  a  fight  soon,  but  I  trust  I  am  prepared  for 
any  emergency  ;  and,  if  necessary,  am  ready  to  die  for  my 
country." 

We  went  into  camp  about  2  o'clock.  The  boys  were 
allowed  to  "forage"  about  the  country,  and  it  is  needless 
to  say  that  they  lived  well.  Some  of  the  troops  pillaged 
the  houses,  and  burned  a  few  barns, — acts  of  vandalism  of 
which  our  regiment  was  heartily  ashamed. 

We  started  on  the  march  again  early  the  next  morning, 
the  1 8th,  but  were  delayed  till  3  o'clock,  when  we  marched 
about  five  miles  ;  then  halted  and  bivouacked,  on  the 
left  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  two  miles  east  of  Centre- 
ville,  and  remained  there  the  two  following  days.  Wrhile  in 
this  camp,  the  regiment  of  regulars  who  were  camped  near 
us  were  called  in  line,  and  formed  a  square,  when  two  of 
their  number  were  whipped,  receiving  thirty  lashes  each  on 


'    "^mmm&/-f^'ti" 


FLOGGING   TWO   DESERTERS.  I  I 

their  bare  backs,  and  were  then  branded,  on  the  side  of  the 
hip,  with  the  letter  D.  It  was  a  sickening  sight.  This  was 
the  last  case  of  flogging  in  the  army,  as  this  barbarous  style 
of  punishment  was  soon  after  abolished. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  iQth  there  was  some  sharp  skir 
mishing  a  few  miles  in  front  of  us,  and  soon  after  some 
prisoners  were  brought  in,  who  were  'the  first  rebels  we  had 
seen.  They  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention,  and  we  dis 
cussed  the  question  among  ourselves,  whether  we  should 
shoot  or  hang  them.  Fortunately  the  question  was  not 
left  to  the  private  soldier  to  decide.  At  dark  we  went  on 
picket,  and  remained  all  night.  Were  relieved  from  picket 
duty  about  9  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  2Oth,  and  re 
turned  to  camp,  where  we  remained  quiet  all  day. 

While  in  this  camp,  a  detail  of  eight  corporals  was  made, 
from  different  companies,  to  act  as  Color  Guard,  Sergeant 
Burton  Freeman,  of  Co.  "  I,"  being  Color  Sergeant. 

Sunday  morning,  July  2 1st,  at  2  o'clock,  we  were  called 
and  ordered  to  get  ready  to  move.  Soon  after,  we  formed 
in  line  and  moved  out  in  light  marching  order,  taking  one 
cooked  ration.  Owing  to  the  delay  of  the  First  Division 
getting  out  of  its  camp,  Hunter's  Division  did  not  reach 
Centreville  till  4  o'clock  ;  moving  thence  along  the  War- 
renton  turnpike,  over  a  bridge  crossing  Cub  Run.  Here 
we  put  out  one  company  as  skirmishers,  and  continued  to 
advance,  turning  to  the  right  into  a  heavy  timber.  The 
day  was  intensely  hot,  and  this  being  a  portion  of  Virginia 
noted  for  a  scarcity  of  water,  we  suffered  both  from  heat 
and  thirst.  At  9  o'clock  we  passed  Sudley's  Church,  when 
the  firing  in  front  of  us  became  quite  lively.  We  soon  left 
the  woods,  and  as  we  came  out  into  the  open  field,  one  of 
Gen.  Porter's  aids  met  us,  and  ordered  Col.  Slocum  to 
move  forward,  and,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand,  exclaimed : 
"  You  will  find  the  enemy  down  there  somewhere !" 

We  crossed  Bull  Run  at  Sudley's  Ford,  after  a  march 
occupying  fully  six  hours  ;  and,  without  coming  to  a  halt, 
advanced  at  a  double  quick  toward  the  enemy's  position. 
We  were  soon  under  fire :  the  solid  shot  and  shell  began  to 


12  RECORD    OK    2^TU    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

pass  over  our  heads,  and  made  us  do  some  involuntary 
dodging.  The  first  man  wounded,  in  the  regiment,  was 
Henry  Wheeler,  of  Co.  "C."  He  was  hit  in  the  instep,  by 
a  musket  ball,  before  we  had  come  in  sight  of  the  enemy. 
It  is  supposed  the  ball  was  fired  by  a  sharp-shooter  from 
one  of  the  tall  trees  on  our  left.  We  continued  to  advance, 
in  column  of  fours,  every  step  the  shot  coming  thicker  and 
faster.  We  passed  the  8th  N.  Y.  Militia,  who,  dressed  in 
their  gray  State  uniforms,  were  caring  for  some  of  their 
wounded  comrades. 

We  soon  reached  the  crest  of  a  hill,  and,  by  a  road  lead 
ing  to  the  valley  beneath  us,  made  a  charge  directly  on  the 
Stone  House,  from  which  we  drove  the  enemy.  The  Colonel, 
having  dismounted,  then  directed  the  color  guard  to  take  a 
position  to  the  left  and  in  rear  of  the  Stone  House,  that  he 
might  form  a  line  of  battle  on  them.  While  getting  into 
position,  a  rebel  battery  opened  on  us  with  canister  shot, 
and  several  of  our  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  Private 
Wesley  Randall,  of  Binghamton,  was  the  first  man  killed. 

The  Colonel  then  ordered  the  line  to  form  still  further  to 
the  left,  and  the  regiment  moved  a  hundred  rods  in  that 
direction,  the  colors  taking  the  lead.  Soon  another  stand 
was  taken,  and  our  ranks,  which  had  been  thrown  into  some 
disorder,  were  ordered  to  re-form  ;  but  before  the  order 
could  be  executed,  we  saw  two  regiments  coming,  at  double 
quick,  over  the  crest  of  the  hill  from  our  rear  and  left, — a 
direction  from  which  we  did  not  expect  the  enemy.  They 
were  dressed  in  gray,  and  we  mistook  them  for  the  8th 
New  York.  As  they  moved  around  in  our  front,  some  of 
the  men  called  out  "  that  they  were  enemies,"  and  began 
to  fire.  Others  excitedly  "declared  them  to  be  the  8th 
New  York,"  and  begged  us  not  to  fire  on  our  own  men. 
Just  then  a  Confederate  straggler  between  the  lines,  ran  up 
to  Col.  Slocum,  and  declared  that  the  "  regiment  yonder 
wanted  to  surrender."  Slocum  threatened  the  man  with 
drawn  sword,  but  he  persisted  ;  and,  by  the  Colonel's  order, 
Adjutant  Jenkins  started  towards  the  enemy,  waving  a 
havelock  as  a  flag  of  truce.  "  What  regiment  are  you  ?"  he 


COL.   SLOCUM   WOUNDED.  13 

asked.  He  was  answered  by  the  unfurling  of  the  Confed 
erate  colors  and  the  firing  of  a  volley.  He  rode  back  to 
our  lines,  exclaiming,  "  Give  it  to  them,  boys!"  The  2/th 
responded,  firing  at  will,  but  many  did  not  hear  him,  and 
still  held  their  fire.  Our  mistake  had  given  them  time  to 
form  in  line  of  battle,  under  cover  of  thick  bushes,  and  they 
poured  volley  after  volley  into  us,  with  deadly  effect.  Our 
men  replied  vigorously,  but  could  not  long  stand  under 
such  a  fire,  and  began  to  retire  slowly  over  the  crest  of  the 
hill.  The  colors  were  the  last  to  retire.  A  few  of  the  men, 
having  secured  covered  positions  behind  hay-cocks  and  un 
der  the  banks  of  a  small  stream  just  in  our  front,  remained 
and  kept  up  a  vigorous  fire  on  their  own  hook,  for  some 
time  after  the  regiment  left.  Some  of  these  men  fired  so 
many  rounds  that  their  guns  became  hot,  and  they  had  to 
cool  them  off  in  the  water  of  the  brook.  The  enemy  did 
not  advance  on  this  position. 

While  making  this  movement  over  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
Col.  Slocum  fell,  shot  through  the  hip,  and  was  sent  to  the 
surgeons  in  the  rear.  Major  Bartlett  now  took  command, 
and  soon  after  withdrew  the  regiment  to  the  woods, in  the 
rear,  where  we  rested  awhile,  and  refilled  our  cartridge- 
boxes. 

After  this,  we  advanced  again  to  the  Stone  House, 
where  we  took  shelter  under  the  banks  of  the  roadside  ; 
and  again  were  moved  from  one  point  of  the  field  to  an 
other,  taking  but  little  active  part  in  the  fight,  yet  contin 
ually  under  fire,  till  5  P.  M.,  feeling  sure  that  we  had  gained 
a  decisive  victory  over  the  enemy. 

But  the  tables  were  soon  after  effectually  turned,  by  the 
arrival  of  a  heavy  column  of  Confederate  troops,  which 
proved  to  be  the  rebel  reserve  of  twelve  thousand  fresh 
men,  under  Gen.  Johnston. 

A  retreat  was  now  ordered,  and  we  marched  off  the  field 
in  good  order,  with  Major  Bartlett  riding  at  the  head  of  the 
regiment,  and  our  colors  flying.  Our  ranks  were  kept  closed 
up  until  passing  Sudley's  Church,  when  some  of  the  panic- 
stricken  cavalry  rode  through  our  line  and  scattered  some 


14  KKC'ORI)    OF   27'lTl    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

of  our  men  among  the  fragments  of  other  regiments,  so  that 
it  was  impossible  to  rally  them  all  again.  The  retreat  then 
became  a  stampede.  A  few  miles  from  the  field  we  came 
to  the  Stone  Bridge  across  Cub  Run.  Here  was  a  blockade 
of  cannon  and  caissons,  from  which  the  drivers  had  cut  the 
traces,  and  rode  off  on  the  horses,  so  that  the  troops  had  to 
turn  to  the  right,  and  ford  the  stream  just  below  the  bridge. 
The  panic  was  increased  by  the  frantic  rush  of  a  large  num 
ber  of  civilians  and  Members  of  Congress,  who  had  ridden 
out  from  Washington  to  witness  the  battle, — one  of  the 
latter,  the  Hon.  Alfred  Ely,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  being 
taken  prisoner. 

Such  a  scene  was  never  before  witnessed  :  the  highway 
was  blocked  with  cavalry,  infantry,  artillery  and  civilians, 
in  solid  mass,  shouting  and  yelling  until  it  seemed  as  though 
the  flood-gates  of  Pandemonium  had  been  thrown  open. 
Before  midnight  wre  reached  the  camp  we  left  in  the  morn 
ing,  near  Centreville,  where,  aside  from  the  losses  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  the  2^th  was  wholly  intact,  having 
its  colors  and  arms,  and  awaiting  orders. 

Capt.  Averill,  of  Col.  Porter's  staff,  sent  a  verbal  message 
requesting  the  regiment  to  form  in  column  and  march  to 
Fairfax,  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  This  order  was  exe 
cuted,  and  from  midnight  we  kept  trudging  along  towards 
Washington,  passing  through  Fairfax — this  time  without 
music,  while  the  cry,  "  On  to  Richmond  !"  seemed  to  have 
lost  all  its  charm.  About  sunrise  we  reached  Arlington, 
made  a  short  halt  at  Fort  Runyon,  where  coffee  and  hard 
tack  were  issued.  Then  we  re-crossed  the  Long  Bridge  to 
Washington,  and  were,  soon  after,  back  to  our  former  quar 
ters  on  Franklin  Square. 

The  wildest  excitement  existed  in  the  city.  Pennsylvania 
Avenue  was  gorged  with  panic-stricken  citizens,  and  soldiers 
who  were  relating  wonderful  stories  of  their  heroism  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  where  both  armies 
were  for  the  first  time  under  fire  ;  and  for  hard  fighting  and 


CASUALTIES   AT   BULL   RUN,  15 

stubborn  resistance,  they  challenged  the  admiration  of  the 
world. 

The  regiments  which  we  mistook  for  friends,  proved  td 
be  the  4th  Alabama  and  the  8th  Georgia  ;  but  they  received 
severe  punishment  at  our  hands, — the  8th  losing  their 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Adjutant,  killed,  and  many  of  its 
enlisted  men  killed  and  wounded. 

The  casualties  of  the  27th,  in  this  battle,  were :  One 
officer  and  twenty-six  enlisted  men  killed  ;  two  officers  and 
forty-two  men  wounded. 

Sixty  men  were  reported  missing,  most  of  them  wounded 
and  taken  prisoners,  and  many  of  them  died  from  their 
wounds  in  the  Southern  prisons.  Total,  131.  (Fora  list 
of  those  taken  prisoners,  see  the  last  chapter.)  Among  the 
prisoners  were  three  of  the  color  guard,  all  of  them  having 
been  hit  during  the  action.  Corp.  Fairchild  was  hit  in  the 
left  breast  by  a  canister  shot,  a  spent  ball,  which  lodged  in 
his  shirt  pocket.  Corp.  Merrill  was  shot  through  the  left 
breast.  Corp.  Wood  had  a  ball  through  his  hand.  Lieut. 
Asa  Park,  of  Co.  "  D,"  the  only  officer  killed,  was  shot  in 
the  abdomen.  As  he  wras  struck,  he  placed  his  hand  over 
the  wound,  and  said  to  the  Captain  :  "  See  what  a  big  hole 
that  is  !"  and  immediately  fell  and  expired. 

On  the  march  from  Washington  and  in  this  battle,  many 
men  in  the  regiment  wore  white  linen  "  havelocks,"  with 
long  capes  over  the  back  of  the  neck.  These  had  been 
recommended  to  protect  the  wearers  from  the  effect  of  the 
sun.  The  only  good  purpose  they  served,  however,  was  to 
furnish  lint  and  bandages  for  the  wounded,  and  were  never 
much  worn  after  this  battle. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  Major  Bartlett's  official  report 
of  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  : 


l6       RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

HEADQUARTERS  2JTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS.        | 
CAMP  ANDERSON,  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  23,  1861.  ^ 

SIR  : — Pursuant  to  order,  I  hereby  submit  for  your  consideration  a 
report  of  the  operations  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  New  York 
State  Volunteers,  under  command  of  Col.  H.  W.  Slocum,  in  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run,  on  July  21,  1861. 

At  precisely  2  o'clock  A.  M.  we  formed  for  march,  in  rear  of  the  Marine 
Corps,  commanded  by  Major  Reynolds.  After  an  exhausting  march  of 
eight  hours,  the  enemy  was  discovered  to  be  in  force  on  our  front  and  left. 
Fifteen  minutes  after  their  appearance,  we  were  hurried  on  at  double-quick 
time  for  the  distance  of  at  least  one  mile,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle  by 
the  left  flank  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  commanding  a  part  of  the  enemy's 
position.  Without  coming  to  a  halt,  we  were  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy 
by  a  road  leading  to  the  valley  beneath  us,  where  they  were  in  numbers 
strongly  positioned  in  and  about  a  large  stone  house,  with  a  battery  of  six 
mounted  howitzers  commanding  the  approach.  The  men,  though  greatly 
fatigued  and  exhausted,  gallantly  attacked  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
house,  who  retired  in  disorder  behind  their  battery,  leaving  a  large  num 
ber  of  killed  and  wounded  on  the  field.  The  battery  was  next  attacked, 
and  after  receiving  eleven  rounds  hastily  retired,  taking  up  another  posi 
tion  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  on  our  left  and  front.  We  were 
immediately  attacked  on  our  right  flank  by  a  large  force,  who  approached 
by  a  ravine,  under  cover  of  a  thick  growth  of  bushes,  and  in  the  front  by 
about  1,500  others,  who  had  been  driven  from  their  position  on  the  hill 
commanding  our  left,  and  whom  we  mistook  for  the  8th  New  York  Regi 
ment  coming  to  our  support.  By  this  mistake  we  lost  many  killed  and 
wounded,  besides  the  opportunity  of  capturing  a  large  number  of  pris 
oners.  We  were  now  engaged  by  more  than  twice  our  own  numbers,  and 
fired  upon  from  concealed  positions,  and  receiving  the  fire  of  the  battery 
from  its  new  point  of  attack.  Perceiving  the  necessity  of  support,  I  rallied 
about  200  of  the  8th  New  York  Regiment  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  com 
manding  the  enemy  ;  and  the  Colonel  withdrew  the  regiment  to  the  top  of 
the  hill  in  a  perfectly  exhausted  condition,  formed,  and  marched  them  into 
the  woods  for  rest.  During  our  retreat  Colonel  Slocum  received  a  wound 
from  a  musket  ball,  in  the  right  thigh,  which  rendered  it  necessary  for  him 
to  retire  from  the  field,  which  he  did,  placing  the  command  in  my  hands. 
After  remaining  half  an  hour  in  this  position  I  was  commanded  by  Capt, 
Averill,  Aid-de-Camp  to  the  Colonel  commanding,  to  join  a  united  charge 
to  be  made  against  the  enemy's  strongest  position  by  all  the  regiments  not 
actually  engaged  at  that  moment.  I  marched  in  four  ranks,  under  fire  of 


BARTLETT'S  REPORT.  17 

the  battery  commanding  the  road,  to  the  creek,  and  filed  to  the  right,  under 
protection  of  its  hanks,  to  await  the  general  assault.  Seeing  our  forces 
engage  the  enemy  by  small  detachments,  and  not  in  the  order  in  which  the 
attack  was  commanded  to  be  made — that  they  were  repulsed  and  driven 
back  in  disorder,  and  believing  that  no  assistance  I  could  render  would 
avail  in  restraining  the  troops  or  stay  their  flight,  I  withdrew  my  command 
in  perfect  order  to  the  heights  above  the  stream,  and  formed  in  line  of 
battle,  facing  the  enemy,  and  remained  in  position  until  thousands  of  troops 
had  passed  to  our  rear,  in  flight  and  confusion.  I  then,  at  the  urgent  so 
licitation  of  the  line  officers,  marched  to  the  rear  in  direction  of  the  retreat, 
and  again  formed,  by  command  of  General  McDowell,  in  line  of  battle, 
facing  the  enemy,  that  he  might  have  a  nucleus  to  form  the  Division  upon 
once  more.  The  attempt  proving  ineffectual,  I  again  marched  to  the  rear, 
and  by  his  command  formed  in  line  a  third  time.  It  being  impossible  to 
form  in  any  force  upon  our  lines,  I  withdrew  the  regiment  from  the  field, 
and  after  a  short  rest,  joined  the  retreating  column.  In  the  retreat  to 
Washington  we  lost  two  sergeants — believed  to  have  been  cut  off  from  the 
regiment  at  the  bridge,  which  was  fired  upon  bv  the  enemy— and  many 
men  from  exhaustion. 

I  am  happy  to  report  that,  during  the  whole  day,  the  men  of  the  regi 
ment  behaved  coolly  and  gallantly,  promptly  obeying  every  order  ;  and 
that  they  never  once  retreated  or  gave  way  before  the  enemy  without  a 

positive  command. 

J.  J.   BARTLETT, 

Major,  commanding. 
COL.   ANDREW    PORTER, 

Commanding  Second  Brigade. 


EXTRACTS,  RELATING  TO  THE  MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  2yTH  REGIMENT,  FROM 
COL.  ANDREW  PORTER'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  THE  BATTLE. 
****** 
"The  head  of  the  First  Brigade  was  immediately  turned  slightly  to  the 
right,  in  order  to  give  time  and  room  for  deployment  on  the  right  of  the 
Second  Brigade.     Griffin's  Battery  found  its  way  through  the  timber  to  the 
fields  beyond,  followed  promptly  by  the  Marines,  while  the  Twenty-Seventh 
took  direction  more  to  the  left.  The  enemy 

appeared  drawn  up  in  a  long  line,  extending  along  the  Warrenton  turn 
pike.  *  *  *  Qur  right  was  rapidly  developed  by  the  Marines, 
Twenty-Seventh,  Fourteenth  and  Eighth,  with  the  Cavalry  in  rear  of  the 


1 8       RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  V.  VOLS. 

right  :  the  enemy  retreated  with  more  precipitation  than  order  as  our  line 
advanced.  *  *  Rebels  soon  came  flying  through  the  woods 

towards  the  right,  and  the  Twenty-Seventh  completed  their  rout  by  charg 
ing  directly  upon  their  center,  in  the  face  of  a  scorching  fire,  while  the 
Fourteenth  and  Eighth  moved  down  the  turnpike,  to  cut  oft"  the  retiring 
foe,  and  to  support  the  Twenty-Seventh,  which  had  lost  its  gallant  Colonel, 
but  was  standing  the  brunt  of  the  action,  with  its  ranks  thinning  in  the 
dreadful  fire.  Tyler's  Division  was  engaged 

with  the  enemy's  right.  The  Twenty-Seventh  was  resting  in  the  edge  of 
the  woods  in  the  center.  The  prestige  of  success 

had  thus  far  attended  the  efforts  of  our  inexperienced  but  gallant  troops. 
A  column,  composed  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  New 

York,  Eleventh  and  Fifth  Massachusetts,  First  Minnesota  and  Sixty-Ninth 
New  York  moved  up  towards  the  left  flank  of  the  batteries.         * 
Fire  came  from  some  infantry  of  the  enemy,  which  had  been  mistaken  for 
our  own  forces.  Soon  the  slopes  behind  us  were 

swarming  with  our  retreating  and  disorganized  forces.     * 
The  Twenty-Seventh  was  the  first  to  rally,  under  the  command  of   Major 
Bartlett,  and   around    it  the  other  regiments  engaged  soon  collected  their 
scattered  fragments.  The  commanding  general 

then  ordered  a  retreat  to  Centerville.  Among 

those  who  deserve  special  mention  are  :  Col.  H.  W.  Slocum,  who  was 
wounded  while  leading  his  gallant  Twenty-Seventh  New  York  to  the 
charge  ;  and  Maj.  J.  J.  Bartlett,  who  subsequently  commanded  it,  and  by 
his  enthusiasm  and  valor  kept  it  in  action  and  out  of  the  panic.  His  con 
duct  was  imitated  by  his  subordinates,  of  whom  two,  Capt.  H.  C.  Rogers 
and  Lieut.  H.  C.  Jackson,  were  wounded,  and  Ensign  Asa  Park  was 
killed.  *  *  * 

A.    PORTER, 

Col.  i6th  Infantry  U.  S.  Army,  commanding  Brigade. 
To  Capt.J.  B.  Fry,  A.  A.  C. 


II. 

AFTER  our  return  from  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  we  occu 
pied  our  quarters  at  Franklin  Square,  in  Washington, 
until  near  the  middle  of  August.  That  terrible  disease, 
camp  diarrhoea — more  destructive  than  the  enemy's  bullets 
— broke  out  in  the  regiment,  and  for  a  few  weeks  made  sad 
havoc  with  the  men.  Drilling  was  dispensed  with,  and  all 
other  duties  not  absolutely  necessary.  It  was  impossible 
to  find  enough  capable  of  performing  duty  to  make  up  a 
complete  camp  guard. 

On  August  1st,  we  received  our  first  pay  from  the  United 
States,  for  one  month  and  ten  days'  service,  amounting  to 
$15.03,  in  gold.  This  was  a  bonanza  for  the  boys. 

Col.  Slocum  visited  the  camp  on  August  I3th,  still  suffer 
ing  from  his  wound,  and  walking  upon  crutches.  Every 
body  was  glad  to  see  him,  but  sorry  that  we  must  soon  lose 
him,  as  he  had  been  promoted  to  Brigadier-General. 

One  day  about  this  time,  while  a  number  of  general  offi 
cers  were  together  at  Gen.  -  — 's  headquarters,  it  was 
announced  in  the  papers  that  Grant — who  was  operating  in 
the  West — had  been  made  a  Brigadier-General,  on  the  /th 
of  August.  Several  of  these  officers,  who  had  known  him 
in  the  regular  army,  received  the  announcement  with  deri 
sive  laughter,  and  ridiculed  the  appointee  as  one  wholly 
unfit  for  the  position.  In  the  light  of  subsequent  events, 
they  must  have  felt  somewhat  chagrined  at  their  former 
estimate  of  our  great  captain. 

On  August  1 4th  several  of  the  line  officers  were  detailed 
on  recruiting  service,  and  went  home  on  twenty  days'  leave 
of  absence. 

The  same  date,  Aug.  I4th,  the  regiment  was  assigned  to 
Gen.  Heintzleman's  brigade,  and  ordered  to  move.  We 
then  packed  up,  and  again  crossing  the  Long  Bridge,  marched 
to  Camp  Vernon,  on  Hunting  Creek,  near  Alexandria,  where 


20  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

we  received  our  first  tents,  and  commenced  our  life  under 
canvas,  and  at  the  same  time  exchanged  our  smooth-bore 
muskets  for  U.  S.  Springfield  rifles,  which  we  carried  during 
the  entire  term  of  service  We  here  spent  most  of  our  time  in 
drilling  by  battalion  or  brigade,  and  the  men  began  to  show 
the  effect  of  the  drill  in  their  improved  soldierly  appearance. 

On  the  1 6th  the  regiment  went  on  picket,  and  on  the  i/th 
moved  the  camp  to  near  Fort  Ellsworth.  On  Sunday,  the 
1 8th,  had  preaching  in  the  camp.  In  the  afternoon  a  rain 
storm  set  in,  continuing  all  night.  The  tents  were  not 
properly  ditched,  and  before  morning  the  boys  found  their 
"  sleep  "  thoroughly  water-soaked.  After  this  they  made 
up  beds  of  cedar  boughs  to  keep  them  off  the  damp 
ground. 

On  the  following  Sunday,  the  25th,  there  was  a  brigade 
review  in  the  morning,  by  Gen.  McClellan  ;  and  preaching 
in  the  afternoon,  by  the  Chaplain. 

August  26th  there  was  a  detail  made  from  each  company 
and  sent  out  to  cut  away  the  woods,  and  clear  the  ground 
on  which  Fort  Lyon  was  afterwards  built. 

On  the  2;th  news  was  received  that  the  enemy  was  ad 
vancing,  and  that  we  should  be  attacked  before  morning. 
A  fresh  supply  of  ammunition  was  issued,  knapsacks  packed, 
and  a  sharp  lookout  was  maintained  all  night.  Nothing- 
came  of  it,  however. 

From  this  time  to  September  5th,  the  ordinary  routine 
of  camp  and  picket  duty  was  kept  up.  The  picket  line 
was  along  Hunting  Creek.  The  "  boys  "  seemed  to  like  it, 
as  it  was  gipsy-like,  and  preferable  to  remaining  in  camp, — 
on  account  of  green  corn,  potatoes  and  fruit,  which  were 
plentiful. 

On  the  5th  an  election  was  held  to  fill  the  vacancies 
caused  by  the  promotion  of  Col.  Slocum  to  be  Brigadier- 
General,  the  resignation  of  Lieut.-Col.  Chambers,  and  the 
death  of  Lieutenant  Park.  The  result  was  the  election  of 
J.  J.  Bartlett,  Colonel  ;  A.  D.  Adams,  Lieutenant-Colonel; 
and  C.  C.  Gardiner,  Major.  In  place  of  Lieut.  Park,  Geo. 
Dickson  was  made  Lieutenant. 


COL.  J.  J.  BARTLETT 


22  RECORD    OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

On  the  same  day  the  regiment  was  detached  from  Heint- 
zleman's  brigade,  and  assigned  to  a  new  brigade,  commanded 
by  Gen.  Slocum,  which  was  composed  of  the  i6th,  26th  and 
2/th  New  York,  and  the  5th  Maine  Volunteers  ;  and  was  a 
few  days  later  (the  I2th)  ordered  into  camp  on  the  site  of 
Fort  Lyon,  and  built  that  fort.  The  camp  at  this  place  was 
called  Camp  Dickinson,  in  honor  of  Hon.  D.  S.  Dickinson, 
of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  Here  we  put  aside  our  drilling,  and 
exchanged  our  guns  for  the  pick  and  shovel.  The  monot 
onous  labor  of  building  the  fort  was  kept  up  for  the  next 
month,  varied  only  by  an  occasional  picket  tour,  or  patrol 
after  the  cake,  pie  and  whiskey  peddlers,  who  came  out  from 
Alexandria  and  infested  the  camp.  Rations  of  whiskey 
were  occasionally  issued,  and  although  each  man  received 
only  a  half  gill,  yet  by  ways  known  only  to  a  soldier,  some 
would  get  drunk  and  find  their  way  to  the  guard-house. 

Fort  Lyon  was  the  grandest  camping  ground  the  regi 
ment  ever  occupied.  Standing  on  the  entrenchments,  and 
looking  to  the  right,  across  the  Potomac,  could  be  seen  the 
City  of  Washington,  with  the  dome  of  the  Capitol  rising 
proudly  towards  the  sky.  Vessels  were  plying  to  and  fro 
in  the  river,  while  Alexandria  lay  beneath  us,  like  a  sullen 
child, — its  Confederate  sympathizers  cowed  into  silence  by 
the  presence  of  troops  and  the  frowning  of  cannon.  In 
front  stretched  the  green  valley  of  Hunting  Creek,  and  to 
the  left  the  highlands  in  the  direction  of  Ball's  Cross  Roads  : 
an  artistic  view,  worthy  of  a  painter's  skill. 

The  picket  lines  were  frequently  posted  on  the  Fairfax 
road  and  on  the  Stone  road  ;  also  on  the  plantation  of  Dr. 
Mason,  who  was  in  the  Confederate  lines.  The  Mason 
family  were  bitter  towards  the  soldiers ;  and  the  boys 
seemed  to  take  a  delight  in  milking  their  cows, — an  occu 
pation  at  wrhich  they  were  frequently  aided  by  the  slaves 
on  the  plantation.  The  Windsor  plantation,  further  out, 
was  at  one  time  raided  by  order,  and  a  fine  herd  of  blooded 
stock  was  brought  in,  and  some  fine  horses.  These,  how 
ever,  were  afterwards  restored  to  the  owner,  by  orders  from 
headquarters. 


FIRST    FORAGING    EXPEDITION.  23 

October  3d  a  detachment,  consisting  of  Co.  F  of  the 
2/th,  and  companies  from  the  5th  Maine  and  26th  New 
York,  was  sent  out,  under  command  of  Col.  Christian,  of 
the  26th.  They  took  the  Mount  Vernon  road,  and  marched 
out  through  the  Village  of  Occbaquan,  near  Pohick  church, 
in  which  Gen.  Washington  and  his  family  formerly  wor 
shipped.  The  outposts  of  the  enemy  were  met,  but  retired 
without  firing  a  shot.  On  the  return,  a  private  in  Co.  K 
was  accidentally  shot  and  killed  by  one  of  his  comrades. 

On  -  -  date,  Cos.  K  and   C,  commanded  by  Capts. 

Achilles  and  Wells,  with  a  wagon  train,  made  a  raid  upon 
the  plantation  of  Col.  John  Washington,  adjoining  Mt.  Ver 
non,  on  the  Potomac,  some  fourteen  miles  from  our  camp. 
They  secured  several  hundred  bushels  of  grain,  thirty-six 
barrels  of  salted  Potomac  herring,  besides  flour,  bacon,  sev 
eral  head  of  cattle,  etc. 

Some  excitement  was  caused  in  camp  during  their  ab 
sence  by  a  report  from  the  outposts,  that  a  heavy  cloud  of 
dust  marked  the  movement  of  the  enemy  in  the  direction 
of  the  Washington  estate ;  and  Gen.  Slocum  at  once  sent  a 
force  to  their  relief — wrhich  met  the  raiders  returning  with 
their  plunder,  unmolested. 

A  few  days  after,  Col.  Washington,  who  was  in  the  Con 
federate  army,  was  shot  and  killed  by  a  Union  sharp-shooter, 
while  he  was  reconnoitering  our  lines. 

Gen.  Slocum's  brigade  was  transferred  to  another  location 
on  October  I4th,  about  half  a  mile  southeast  of  Fairfax  Sem 
inary.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  were  the  brigades  of  Gen. 
Kearney  and  Gen.  Newton,  and  the  three  brigades  together 
formed  a  division,  commanded  by  Gen.  Franklin, — the  nu 
cleus  of  the  grand  army  known  in  history  as  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac. 

The  camp  of  the  2/th  at  this  locality  was  named  "  Camp 
Clara,"  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Slocum,  the  wife  of  our  first  Colonel. 
Here  we  built  log  foundations  to  our  tents,  and  went  into 
winter  quarters,  and  once  more  resumed  our  drilling,  which 
was  kept  up  almost  uninterruptedly  until  the  mud  became 


24  RECORD   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

so  deep  on  our  drill  ground,  about  mid-winter,  that  it  had 
to  be  discontinued. 

While  in  camp  here,  runaway  slaves  would  often  come 
into  the  lines  and  engage  themselves  as  servants  to  the 
officers.  Gen.  Slocum  hired  a  bright  boy  as  body  servant, 
whom  the  boys  named  "  Jeff,"  after  the  President  of  the 
Confederate  States,  and  he  soon  became  a  general  favorite. 
About  this  time,  orders  were  issued  to  the  army,  that  all 
slaves  should  be  returned  to  their  masters,  if  a  demand  were 
made  for  them.  Jeff's  master  and  some  rebel  neighbors 
came  after  him,  but  the  boys  in  our  regiment  getting  wind 
of  it,  soon  planned  an  "underground  railroad,"  and  Jeff 
was  spirited  away  from  one  tent  to  another,  and  so  securely 
hidden  that,  although  every  tent  in  camp  was  searched,  this 
little  darky  never  again  gladdened  the  heart  of  his  master. 
Gen.  Slocum  took  him  with  him  to  the  Peninsula,  and  he 
followed  the  fortunes  of  the  army  till  about  the  time  of  the 
retreat,  when  he  succumbed  to  the  swamp  fever;  but  was 
tenderly  nursed  by  his  fellow  servants,  in  an  attic  room  of 
a  house  where  the  General  had  his  headquarters.  One  day, 
as  a  fellow-servant  entered  his  room,  he  exclaimed,  in  his 
delirium,  "  Hurry  up  and  black  the  General's  boots  !"  These 
were  his  last  words,  and  he  soon  passed  away. 

Many  of  the  officers,  having  fixed  up  their  quarters  in 
comfortable  shape,  sent  for  their  wives ;  and  the  camp 
seemed  like  the  homes  of  a  country  village.  The  monotony 
of  camp  life  was  relieved  by  amusements  of  various  kinds. 
Literary  comrades  became  war  correspondents^  and  in  their 
diminutive  quarters  penned  articles  which  were  printed  in 
the  Northern  journals,  and  fired  anewr  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
loyal.  Sportive  comrades  (and  there  were  many)  employed 
their  leisure  moments  in  shuffling  the  "  deceptive  cards," 
and  staking  their  "  Government  salary "  on  strong  hands. 
Still  others  studied  the  army  tactics,  with  a  worthy  ambition 
to  ascend  the  ladder  of  military  fame.  The  2/th  was  made 
up  of  an  aggregation  of  rare  geniuses,  and  its  reputation 
extended  wherever  the  drum-beat  of  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac  was  heard. 


TRANSFER   OF   THE    26TII.  25 

On  November  8th,  a  brass  band  of  twenty  pieces  was 
mustered  in  as  part  of  the  regiment,  with  Alexander  Scott, 
of  Rochester,  as  leader. 

In  November,  the  26th  New  York  was  transferred  to 
another  brigade,  and  the  96th  Pennsylvania  took  its  place 
in  Slocum's  brigade. 


KOSTEK    OK 

GEN.  W.    B    FRANKLIN'S   DIVISION, 

AUTUMN  AND  WINTER  OF   1861. 


CAVALRY. 

Col.  McReynold's  ist  New  York  Volunteers  (Lincoln 
Cavalry). 

INFANTRY. 

First  Brigade. — Gen.  PHILIP  KEARNEY. —  1st,  2d,  3d  and 
4th  Newr  Jersey  Volunteers. 

Second  Brigade. — Gen.  H.  W.  SLOCUM. — 2/th  New  York, 
1 6th  New  York,  5th  Maine,  96th  Pennsylvania. 

Third  Brigade. — Gen.  JOHN  NEWTON. —  i8th  New  York, 
3ist  New  York,  32d  New  York,  95th  Pennsylvania  (Gosline 
Zouaves). 

ARTILLERY. 
Platt's  Battery  D,  2d  United  States — Six  Napoleon  guns. 

Porter's  A,  Massachusetts — Four  lo-pound  Parrott  guns ; 
two  12-pound  howitzers. 

Hexamer's  A,  New  Jersey — Four  lo-pound  Parrott  guns; 
two  12-pound  howitzers. 

Wilson's  F,  New  York — Four  3-inch  ordnance  guns. 


26       RECORD  01«  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  V.  VOLS. 

During  the  winter  three  events  of  special  interest  occurred. 
The  first  was  the  great  review  at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  No 
vember  2Oth,  when  about  100,000  soldiers  passed  in  review 
before  President  Lincoln  and  Gen.  McClellan.  The  27th 
received  special  praise  for  the  splendid  division  lines  main 
tained,  in  spite  of  the  muddy  and  slippery  condition  of  the 
ground  over  which  they  passed.  This  review  was  one  of 
extraordinary  grandeur,  and  it  seemed  as  if  there  were  troops 
enough  to  move  through  the  Confederacy  without  a  repulse. 

The  next  event  was  the  execution  of  a  soldier,  named 
Johnson,  of  the  1st  New  York  Cavalry,  on  December  I3th. 
He  was  taken  while  attempting  to  desert  to  the  enemy,  with 
the  intention  of  having  his  company  captured  on  the  picket 
post.  On  his  person  were  found  drafts  of  the  fortifications. 
It  seems  that  he  was  from  New  Orleans,  and  had  joined  this 
command  for  the  purpose  of  serving  the  Southern  cause. 
He  was  speedily  tried,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot.  The  en 
tire  division  was  marched  out  to  witness  the  execution,  and 
formed  on  three  sides  of  a  square.  The  prisoner  \vas  placed 
in  position,  blindfolded,  and  while  kneeling  upon  his  coffin, 
ten  members  of  his  company  marched  to  within  a  few  paces, 
and  fired  their  carbines  into  his  breast.  He  fell  forward  on 
his  face,  and  the  troops  marched  past  the  body  and  back  to 
their  camp.  This  was  the  first  execution  after  the  opening 
of  hostilities,  by  sentence  of  court  martial. 

January  I,  1862. — The  new  year  was  welcomed  in  by  the 
firing  of  cannon  and  music  by  the  bands.  Volley  after  vol 
ley  of  musketry  was  fired,  until  the  whole  army  participated 
in  the  noisy  demonstration.  Citizens  of  Washington  and 
Alexandria  were  alarmed,  thinking  that  a  battle  was  being 
fought. 

But  the  "  red-letter"  day  of  the  regiment,  while  in  winter 
quarters,  was  the  nth  of  January,  '62,  the  occasion  being 
the  return  of  about  thirty  of  the  prisoners  who  had  been 
captured  at  the  Bull  Run  battle.  Considerable  preparation 
had  been  made  in  anticipation  of  the  day  set  for  their  re 
ception.  A  triumphal  arch  of  evergreens  was  erected  on 
the  extreme  left  of  the  street  between  the  officers'  quarters 


KKTUKX   OF   TIIIKTV    PRISONERS. 


and  the  companies'  quarters.  At  the  centre  of  the  arch, 
within  a  wreath,  was  the  number  "27,"  and  below,  the  fol 
lowing  : 


"  jALelcome,  d/Cinrades! 


44  Youir    Wounds    Bleed    Afresli 


in  our  Hearts." 


It  was  Saturday  afternoon.  The  whole  regiment  turned 
out.  and,  headed  by  Scott's  Band,  and  preceded  by  Gen. 
Slocum  and  stafT,  marched  down  the  Alexandria  road  about 
a  mile,  where  they  met  the  comrades,  fresh  from  a  Southern 
prison  pen,  under  the  command  of  Corp.  Merrill,  whom  they 
had  selected  to  direct  their  movements.  They  were  a  fan 
tastic  squad, — some  dressed  with  government  blankets  over 
their  shoulders,  to  protect  them  from  the  wintry  blast  ; 
others,  with  rags  hanging  about  their  emaciated  frames. 
The  regiment  halted  and  formed  in  two  ranks,  open  order, 
facing  inward.  Gen.  Slocum  and  staff,  with  the  field  offi 
cers,  advanced  and  saluted  the  prisoners,  and  escorted  them 
between  the  open  ranks,  while  Scott's  Band  played  "  Bold 
Soldier  Boy,"  and  the  whole  regiment  set  up  a  terrific 
cheering.  The  line  was  re-formed,  and  escorted  the  pris 
oners  to  Camp  Clara,  where  the  parade  was  dismissed,  and 
every  one  participated  in  a  sort  of  do-as-you-please  enter 
tainment  until  a  late  hour.  The  enthusiasm  was  conta 
gious,  and  many  officers  and  men  from  other  regiments, 
camped  in  the  vicinity,  came  to  help  welcome  the  returned 
comrades,  and  participate  in  the  general  hilarity. 

The  next  day  the  Richmond  boys,  each  with  a  furlough 
for  twenty  days,  started  for  a  visit  to  their  several  homes. 


28  RECORD    OF    2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

From  this  time  till  Spring,  is  known  as  the  "Season  of 
inactivity."  Some  of  the  time  picket  duty  was  performed 
in  the  midst  of  severe  rain  and  snow  storms,  the  men 
suffering  greatly.  The  camp  was  like  a  mortar-bed  ;  dress 
parades  and  drills  were  impossible.  Details  were  made  to 
cut  wood  and  bring  it  to  camp.  Roads  had  to  be  repaired, 
and  it  took  six  horses  to  draw  a  one-horse  load.  This  work 
continued  until  March  loth,  when  the  wood  details  were 
discharged,  and  the  regiment  marched,  in  a  pouring  rain,  to 
Fairfax  C.  H..  fourteen  miles  from  our  camp.  This  move 
ment  was  made  by  the  whole  army,  and  called  a  "  parade," 
because  the  enemy  was  not  found,  having  retreated  to  the 
Rappahannock,  leaving  strong  fortifications, — from  which, 
it  would  seem,  they  never  Could  have  been  driven.  The 
regimenr,  while  at  Fairfax,  was  camped  near  the  village, 
and  Col.  Bartlett  named  the  location,  "Camp  Diven,"  in 
honor  of  Hon.  A.  S.  Diven,  of  FLlmira,  N.  Y.  Here,  for  the 
first  time,  we  camped  under  small  shelter  tents:  there  had 
been  issued,  to  each  man,  two  pieces  of  twilled  cotton  cloth, 
about  four  feet  wide  and  six  feet  long;  when  these  were 
buttoned  together,  they  formed  what  was  termed  a  "  shelter" 
tent  ;  but  that  was  a  misnomer,  and  the  boys  thought  it 
must  have  been  adopted  because  of  the  very  imperfect 
shelter  they  afforded,— except  in  dry  and  pleasant  weather. 
As  two  comrades  generally  slept  together,  the  extra  two 
pieces  formed  the  ends  or  gables  of  the  shelter,  and  when 
these  pieces  were  sloped  out  sufficiently,  it  was  possible  for 
a  medium-sized  man  to  crawl  in  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
and,  by  lying  in  the  center,  shelter  himself  from  a  light  dew  ; 
but  when  two  were  obliged  to  squeeze  into  this  queer 
sort  of  a  "dog-house,"  as  we  dubbed  it,  somebody's  feet 
generally  protruded.  When  it.  rained,  the  water  trickled 
through  the  ridge  where  the  pieces  were  joined  ;  the  rain 
also  finding  its  way  through  the  thin  material,  fell  in 
fine  spray  upon  our  blankets.  But  carrying  our  own 
tents  relieved  the  baggage  trains  of  a  large  part  of  their 
load,  and  the  number  of  wagons  was  correspondingly  re 
duced.  The  men  recognized  the  necessity  of  this,  and 


RAID    OX    A    I.Af'.KK    HKKR    TRAIN.  2Q 

after  a  little  became  reconciled  to  the  change,  and  we  had 
no  other  shelter  during  the  remainder  of  our  term  of  ser 
vice. 

The  soldiers  will  all  remember  Camp  Divert  with  interest. 
One  day  while  here,  a  long  train  of  army  wagons  passed  the 
camp,  loaded  with  lager  beer,  going  out  to  Blenker's  Di 
vision  of  Germans,  camped  more  to  the  front.  A  very  large 
number  of  men  collected  on  each  side  of  the  road,  gaping 
at  the  novel  train,  with  their  mouths  just  watering  for  the 
good  stuff,  that  was  "so  near,  and  yet  so  far!"  Hut,  like 
all  good  soldiers,  they  were  equal  to  the  occasion  and 
presently,  as  the  train  was  ascending  a  little  hill,  sonic  one 
managed  to  cut  the  straps  that  held  up  the  tail-gate,  and 
the  ropes  with  which  the  canvas  cover  was  tied  over  the  end 
of  the  wagon, — when  out  rolled  barrel  after  barrel  of  the 
Germans'  beer.  These  were  quickly  rolled  to  one  side,  the 
heads  knocked  in,  and  thousands  of  men.  with  tin  cups  and 
pails,  could  be  seen  running  to  the  train,  all  anxious  to  get 
a  taste  of  the  booty.  Load  after  load  was  thus  dumped  on 
this  hill,  and  finally  it  was  found  necessary  to  make  a  charge 
with  a  whole  regiment  of  cavalry  in  order  to  drive  off  the 
raiders,  and  to  protect  the  train  over  the  balance  of  its 
journey. 

We   remained   in   Camp    Diven   two  days. 

The  nights  were  so  cold  that  many  could  not  sleep  ; 
but  the  foraging  was  very  good,  and  many  a  porker  was 
brought  in. 

While  at  Fairfax  a  new  organization  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  was  made.  Slocum's  brigade  and  Franklirr's  di 
vision  were  placed  in  McDowell's  corps,  and  called  2d  Brig 
ade,  1st  Division,  1st  Corps. 

On  the  1 4th,  the  regiment  marched  back  and  bivouacked 
near  Brenton's  Tavern,  and  on  the  next  day  returned  to 
44  Camp  Clara,"  where  we  remained  till  the  morning  of  April 
4th,  when  Fred.  Bender's  bugle  called  the  regiment  into 
line,  and  we  started  on  a  march  to  Alexandria,  and  took 
the  cars  to  Manassas  Plains,  and  from  there  marched,  via 
Bristol,  to  Catlett's  Station,  where  we  bivouacked  for  sev- 


3O  RECORD    OK    2/T1I    RE(HMKNT    N.  V.  VOI.S. 

eral  days,  under  our  shelter  tents.  While  here  a  terrible  ' 
storm  of  rain  and  snow  came  on,  and  the  camp,  being  on 
low  ground,  was  almost  flooded,  so  that  the  men  had  to 
abandon  the  camp  and  seek  shelter  on  higher  ground,  under 
sheds  and  in  negro  cabins,  near  a  farm  house.  Here  we  built 
up  rousing  fires  in  those  old  Virginia  fireplaces,  and  around 
them  at  night  the  men  could  be  found  in  squads,  singing 
(while  the  pitiless  storm  raged  without),  "  Do  they  miss  me 
at  home?"  and  other  songs,  all  tending  to  cheer  them  up 
in  their  forlorn  condition  ;  and  could  you  have  looked  in 
upon  us,  you  would  have  found  a  happy,  jolly  crowd. 
The  calves,  chickens  and  pigs  that  were  brought  in,  were 
served  up  in  savory  style,  and  the  feasting  and  revelry  that 
marked  this  camp  will  be  long  remembered  by  every  com 
rade. 

Some  of  the  officers  will  remember  the  uncivil  manner 
in  which  Gen.  Kearney  drove  them  off  when  they  sought 
shelter  at  a  house  where  he  had  established  his  head 
quarters. 

The  weather  having  cleared,  we  returned  to  camp, 
and  at  daylight  on  the  I2th  boarded  the  cars,  and  returned 
to  Alexandria,  where  we  went  into  camp,  near  Fort  Ells 
worth. 

Before  leaving  Catlett's  Station,  there  was  a  dispute  be 
tween  Gens.  Slocum  and  Kearney  as  to  which  brigade 
should  take  the  cars,  as  there  was  transportation  for  one 
brigade  only.  It  was  decided  in  favor  of  our  brigade,  and 
we  boarded  the  platform  cars  and  started,  being  drawn  by 
two  wheezy  old  engines.  We  moved  along  very  well  on 
the  level  track  and  down-grades,  but  on  the  up-grades  we 
had  to  dismount,  and  sometimes  help  the  engines  up  with 
the  empty  train.  The  consequence  was,  that  when  we  ar 
rived  at  Alexandria,  we  found  a  part  of  Kearney's  men 
already  in  camp, — he  having  marched  them  over  the  dis 
tance  in  better  time  than  our  train  made  ! 


CHAPTER  III. 

WE  remained   in  this  camp  till  the  i/th,  when  the  regi 
ment,  accompanied   by  Gen.  Slocum  and  staff,  em 
barked  on  the  steamer  S.  R.  Spanieling  and  sailed  down  the 
Potomac,  passing   Mt.  Vernon  and    other  points  of  interest 
on  this  historic  stream. 

For  a  time  the  scenery  along  the  banks  was  magnificent, 
and  the  men,  accustomed  only  to  plodding  up  and  down 
the  hills,  through  Virginia  mud,  enjoyed  the  new  sensation 
of  a  sail  very  much  ;  but  at  night  a  violent  storm  set  in  ; 
many  were  sea-sick  ;  and,  while  the  wind  whistled  through 

**  o 

the  shrouds,  and  the  vessel  rolled,  making  but  little  head 
way  in  the  darkness,  many  a  man  was  ready  to  exchange 
"  his  life  on  the  ocean  wave  "  for  the  red  mud  again. 

We  remained  on  the  steamer  for  several  days;  were  quar 
tered  on  the  upper  deck,  without  shelter  from  the  rain,  and 
with  no  facilities  for  cooking  our  food.  We  ate  our  salt 
pork  raw,  and  sometimes  (by  paying  the  cook),  we  could 
get  enough  hot  water  from  the  galley  to  make  a  cup  of 
coffee. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  we  ran  down  past  Fortress 
Monroe,  securing  a  fine  view  of  the  outside  of  the  fort. 
At  dark  we  ran  over  to  Ship  Point,  and  on  the  24th  landed 
near  the  mouth  of  the  York  River,  and  put  up  our  tents  in 
a  beautiful  grove  of  pine  trees  along  the  shore.  Here  oys 
ters  and  clams  were  plentiful,  and,  while  the  main  part  of 
the  army  was  besieging  Yorktown,  we  quietly  remained  at 


32  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

this  safe  distance,  and  fairly  reveled  in  the  bivalves,  fresh 
from  the  beds.  On  May  3d,  Yorktown  was  evacuated,  and 
the  next  day  we  bid  a  sorrowful  good-by  to  our  camp  and 
oyster-beds,  and  re-embarked  on  the  S.  R.  Spanieling;  an 
chored  in  the  bay  for  the  night,  and  at  daylight  (May  5th) 
ran  up  the  York  River  as  far  as  Yorktown,  and  anchored. 
While  here  we  could  distinctly  hear  the  cannonading  of  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg.  On  the  following  day  the  fleet  ran 
up  the  river  to  West  Point,  the  S.  R.  Spanieling  in  the  lead. 
The  journey  was  one  that  never  will  be  forgotten  by  the 
soldiers  of  that  command.  The  banks  and  sloping  hills 
were  green  with  the  heavy  foliage  of  May,  and  the  beauty 
of  the  scene  far  exceeded  anything  before  witnessed  by  the 
men,  on  the  soil  of  Virginia.  It  was  a  sun-burst  of  May 
glory,  preceding  the  gloom  of  a  tedious  and  bloody  cam 
paign.  A  landing  was  effected  at  Brick  House  Point,  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  river,  opposite  West  Point,  the  regi 
ment  going  ashore  in  small  boats, — Col.  Bartlett,  in  a  boat 
with  Co.  "  C,"  being  the  first  to  land  ;  and,  after  searching 
the  field  with  his  glass,  ordered  the  regiment  ashore.  Only 
a  few  of  the  enemy's  mounted  videttes  and  infantry  scouts 
were  discovered.  The  regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers 
upon  the  open  plain,  which  extended  back  a  mile  or  more 
to  a  dense  forest.  Across  this  plain  the  line  advanced  to  a 
roadway  running  into  the  woods,  along  which-  the  picket 
posts  were  established  for  the  night,  in  squads  of  three  or 
four,  with  intervals  of  four  or  five  rods  between.  In  the 
rear  of  this  line  lay  the  reserve.  About  dark  two  prisoners 
from  the  5th  Texas  were  captured,  on  the  left.  One  of 
these  was  a  very  tall  man,  and  the  other  a  little  short  man, 
who  wore  spectacles,- — a  comical  looking  soldier. 

Darkness  soon  came  on  ;  the  night  was  very  cold,  and 
the  men  began  their  anxious  watch  through  the  long,  dark 
hours.  The  moon  rose  over  the  woods  soon  after  1 1  o'clock, 
and  exposed  some  of  the  posts  to  the  view  of  the  enemy — 
who  were  lurking  in  the  woods.  All  seemed  quiet  in 
front  till  12  o'clock,  when  Lieut.  Bailey,  of  Co.  D,  began 
his  tour  of  inspection  along  the  vidette  posts.  He  tarried 


SHOOTING   OF    I5AILEV    AND    HARTLEY.  33 

to  chat  with  some  of  his  men  who  were  stationed  in  a  clear 
ing  occupied  by  two  or  three  "  poor-white-trash  cabins," 
with  the  gardens  grown  up  to  bushes.  Through  this  clear 
ing  ran  a  wagon  track,  which  terminated  at  the  woods,  with 
a  set  of  bars.  Bailey  seated  himself  on  the  knapsack  of 
Corp.  Crocker,  who  wras  standing  guard,  and  with  whom  he 
was  conversing  in  a  low  tone,  saying  "  he  was  anxious  to 
meet  the  enemy  in  battle  on  the  morrow,"  as  he  had  never 
been  in  an  engagement,  on  account  of  sickness.  Crocker, 
hearing  a  rustling  of  the  leaves  in  the  direction  of  the 
woods,  notified  Bailey,  who,  seizing  the  gun  of  one  of  the 
comrades  who  was  lying  down,  took  his  stand  by  the  side 
of  Crocker,  both  peering  into  the  darkness:  soon  they  saw 
approaching,  along  the  roadway,  two  men  walking  side  by 
side,  with  guns  at  a  trail,  and  not  more  than  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  distant.  "Halt!  Who  comes  there?"  de 
manded  Bailey.  The  two  men  immediately  drew  their 
pieces,  Crocker  and  Bailey  doing  the  same.  Two  of  the 
four  pieces  were  discharged,  Bailey  and  one  rebel  falling 
with  their  guns  cocked,  neither  having  fired.  Crocker,  with 
his  companions,  retired  towards  the  reserve,  re-loading  his 
piece  as  he  did  so.  The)'  then  lay  down  in  silence  the  bal 
ance  of  the  night. 

At  daybreak,  when  the  advance  was  made,  we  found  a 
body  dressed  in  gray,  a  few  feet  in  front  of  our  fallen  officer. 
Both  the  victims  lay  on  their  backs,  outstretched  at  full 
length,  with  their  heads  in  opposite  directions.  Bailey  was 
shot  through  the  heart,  and  the  rebel  through  the  left  arm 
and  neck.  On  search,  the  dead  Confederate  proved  to  be 
Sergt.  Wm.  Hartley,  of  the  Fourth  Alabama.  On  his  body 
was  found  an  order  from  Gen.  Magruder,  authorizing  Hart 
ley  to  act  as  a  scout ;  also  a  revolver,  and  a  gold  watch  of 
antique  English  pattern.  After  the  war,  Lieut.  C.  N.  Elliott 
forwarded  the  watch  to  Hartley's  family,  at  Huntsville, 
Alabama,  and  received  a  kind  acknowledgment  of  the  cour 
tesy.  The  watch  proved  to  be  an  old  family  relic.  Hartley 
was  a  Yale  graduate,  and  a  young  man  of  promise.  Among 


34 


RECORD  OF  2;TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 


the  letters  found  on  his  person  were  some  from  a  young 
lady  friend  in   New  Haven. 

Lieut.  Bailey  was  from  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  and  a  young 
officer  of  great  promise,  and  a  favorite  with  the  whole  reg 
iment.  He  had  received  his  commission  only  a  few  days 
before,  and  this  was  his  first  tour  of  duty  as  an  officer. 
The  ball  that  killed  him  passed  through  the  Company  Roll- 


ROLL-BOOK    OF   CO.    "D,"    SHOWING    BULLET-HOLE    AND 

BLOOD  STAINS. 


REVOLVER   FOUND  ON  (THE  REP.EL)  HARTLEY'S    BODY. 

Book,  which  he  carried  in  his  left  side  pocket,  and  through 
tlic  name  of  Crocker.  This  ghastly  relic  is  still  preserved 
by  one  of  the  comrades  of  Co.  "  D."  Corporal  Crocker 
still  owns  the  revolver  that  was  found  on  the  body  of  his 


ADVANCE   TO   THE   LINE   OF   BATTLE.  35 

victim  ;  and,  by  the  way,  has  made  New  Haven  his  home 
since  the  war,  and  is  now  living  in  the  same  city  as  the  lady 
whose  lover  he  killed  on  that  memorable  field.  The  body 
of  Lieut.  Bailey  was  placed  in  a  rough  board  box,  and  ten 
derly  buried  by  his  comrades,  at  the  side  of  the  York  River, 
beneath  two  weeping-willow  trees,  and  marked  by  a  board. 
The  body  of  Hartley  was  interred  where  he  fell.  This 
tragic  death  of  Lieut.  Bailey,  and  the  swift  retribution  that 
met  the  handsome,  daring  Rebel  scout,  was  a  marked  inci 
dent  in  the  history  of  the  regiment. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  we  advanced  our 
line  of  skirmishers  into  the  woods,  and  soon  had  our  picket 
line  established  in  a  half-circle,  with  the  York  River  on  the 
left,  and  the  Pamunkey  on  the  right. 

About  9  o'clock  Capt.  Jay,  of  Co.  F,  with  a  detail  from 
different  companies,  made  an  advance  through  the  woods. 
Seeing  a  few  cavalrymen  on  a  hill  in  advance,  his  force  was 
so  disposed  as  to  capture  them,  if  possible.  As  the  little 
force  advanced,  the  cavalrymen  leisurely  fell  back  over  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  and  the  Captain  bid  his  men  go  on, — say 
ing  he  was  a  little  lame,  and  would  follow  as  fast  as  he  could. 
When  the  advance  reached  the  top  of  the  hill,  they  found 
themselves  within  short  range  of  a  heavy  line  of  battle. 
Our  boys  fired  their  pieces,  and  then  retreated, — some  to 
the  cover  of  the  woods  on  the  right  and  left,  and  others 
straight  down  the  field,  in  the  direction  from  which  they 
had  advanced,  followed  by  a  shower  of  rebel  bullets. 
Sergt.  Ronk,  of  Co.  "  C,"  sought  shelter  behind  a  clump 
of  bushes,  where  he  remained  till  nearly  every  branch  was 
shot  away  by  the  enemy's  balls.  Then  jumping  up  and 
running  for  his  life,  he  cleared  a  rail  fence  at  a  single  bound, 
and  came  down  in  a  deep  ditch  on  the  other  side.  He  often 
afterwards  declared  that  he  was  the  worst  frightened  man  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  this  retreat  Capt.  Jay  led 
the  line.  He  was  not  lame  then  :  hatless,  and  with  coat- 
tails  flying,  he  came  through  the  woods  upon  the  reserves, 
shouting :  "  Get  out  of  these  woods !  Get  out  of  these 
woods !" 


36  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

When  our  men  discharged  their  pieces,  an  officer  seated 
on  a  gray  horse  fell  to  the  ground  ;  and  the  next  day,  when 
the  advance  was  made,  we  found  a  fresh  grave,  and  the 
headboard  was  marked,  "  Major  -  — ,  of  the  First  Regi 
ment  of  Texans."  Two  of  our  men  were  lost. 

The  enemy  followed  up  closely,  and  a  general  engage 
ment  came  on.  The  plan  of  the  Rebels  was  to  drive  our 
skirmishers  from  the  dense  woods,  and  endeavor  to  get  a 
position  in  the  open  ground  between  the  woods  and  the 
river,  from  which  they  could  reach  our  place  of  landing  and 
our  transports  with  their  artillery  fire.  The  open  plain  was 
covered  with  Union  regiments,  batteries  of  artillery  and 
battalions  of  cavalry,  the  division  having  all  landed.  The 
battle  now  commenced  in  dead  earnest.  The  forest  was  all 
ablaze  with  musketry.  They  succeeded  in  driving  us  away 
from  the  woods,  but  when  they  attempted  to  advance,  our 
fire  was  too  much  for  them,  and  they  were  driven  back, 
with  the  aid  of  the  artillery  and  the  gunboats,  which  sent 
over  the  heads  of  our  men,  their  ponderous  messengers  of 
death.  The  battle  continued  till  3  o'clock,  when  the  enemy 
retired. 

After  being  relieved,  we  had  little  to  do  except  to  watch 
the  shells  as  they  exploded  between  the  contending  lines ; 
and,  aside  from  the  danger  connected  with  it,  it  is  one  of 
the  grandest  things,  in  the  fireworks  line,  one  ever  saw. 
We  could  not  see  the  shell,  but  by  aid  of  the  sound  its 
path  could  be  traced.  At  first  it  rushes  along  high  in  air, 
at  a  rate  that  puzzles  the  eyes  and  ears  to  follow  it, 
when — presto  !  change  !  and  where  nothing  had  been  seen 
before,  a  little  cloudlet  of  whitish  blue  smoke  appears,  and 
the  sharp  report  soon  comes  to  our  ears.  The  furious  whistle 
or  screech  of  the  shell,  its  tremendous  rapidity,  its  instant 
explosion  and  apparently  dead  stop,  make  it  wonderfully 
exciting  and  brilliant. 

The  casualties  of  the  battle  of  West  Point  did  not  fall 
heavily  on  our  regiment. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  reports  of  the  com 
manding  officers,  in  regard  to  the  battle  of  West  Point-: 


GEN.  FRANKLIN'S  REPORTS.  37 

HEADQUARTERS  FRANKLIN'S  DIVISION,  j 
At  BRICK  HOUSE,   May  7,  1862.        ( 

GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  this  morning,  about  seven 
o'clock,  our  pickets  were  driven  in  on  our  left  flank  ;  and  that,  after  skir 
mishing  for  about  two  hours,  the  action  became  quite  sharp  at  the  right 
extremity  of  that  flank.  Our  reserves  were  driven  in  several  times,  but 
returned  to  their  positions  with  ardor.  Finally  we  held  the  position  which 
we  had  taken  in  the  morning,  and  at  several  points  of  the  line  advanced 
our  positions.  Wherever  we  advanced,  the  enemy  was  found  in  rifle-pits. 
The  day  has  been  a  success,  and  but  for  the  extreme  want  of  forage  and 
provisions,  we  might  have  followed  it  up.  As  it  is,  I  congratulate  myself 
that  we  have  maintained  our  position.  Gen.  Newton's  command  was 
most  severely  engaged,  and  his  conduct  and  that  of  Gen.  Slocum,  who 
have  charge  respectively  of  the  right  and  left  wings,  was  admirable. 

All  of  the  officers  and  men  behaved  admirably,  and  with  transportation 
and  forage  we  could  move  on  to-morrow.  The  killed  and  wounded  and 

missing  amount  to  186. 

Very  respectfully, 

W.   B.   FRANKLIN, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding  Division. 


HEADQUARTERS  OF  DIVISION,       ^ 
WHITE  HOUSE,  Va.,  May  17,  1862.  J 

GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  land 
ing  of  my  division  on  York  River,  near  West  Point,  on  the  6th  instant  ; 
and  of  the  action  with  the  enemy,  near  the  point  of  disembarkation,  on 
the  7th  instant. 

In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  General-in-Chief,  the  division  left 
Cheesman's  Creek  during  the  night  of  the  4th,  using  for  the  infantry  and 
a  portion  of  the  cavalry  the  transportation  which  had  brought  them  from 
Alexandria;  and  for  the  artillery,  canal  boats  fastened  together  in  pairs, 
decked  over  so  as  to  serve  as  wharves  for  landing  ;  and  a  few  barges  and 
schooners.  I  arrived  at  the  point  designated  for  the  landing  at  three  p.  M. 
of  the  6th.  The  landing  commenced  as  soon  as  a  reconnoissance  of  the 
shore  was  finished.  My  ignorance  of  the  topography  of  the  place  of  land 
ing,  and  the  fact  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  infantry  were  seen  in  the 
woods  surrounding  the  plain  on  which  we  landed,  as  soon  as  the  landing 


38       RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

began,  convinced  me  that  something  was  to  be  feared  from  the  enemy  in 
the  morning.  During  the  night  one  of  our  pickets  and  one  of  the  enemy's 
were  killed,  and  two  prisoners  were  taken  by  our  pickets.  From  these 
we  learned  that  the  enemy  was  in  large  force  in  our  front,  and  that  we 
were  to  be  attacked  in  the  morning.  Precautions  were  taken  during  the 
night  to  prevent  the  success  of  an  attack.  The  roads  approaching  the 
landing  were  obstructed  by  felled  trees  ;  the  vigilance  of  the  sentinels 
was  redoubled  ;  the  wood  surrounding  the  plain  upon  which  the  landing 
was  made,  was  thoroughly  watched  by  pickets  which  were  posted  by  Col. 
Bartlett's  Twenty-seventh  New  York  Regiment,  the  Colonel  being  general 
officer  of  the  day,  and  to  their  watchfulness  and  efficiency  our  success  of 
the  next  day  is,  to  a  great  extent,  due. 

Nothing  was  heard  from  the  enemy  until  about  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning:  then  firing  between  the  pickets  in  the  vicinity  of  the  road  en 
tering  the  plain  from  the  interior  commenced,  and  increased  in  violence 
until  the  action  became  severe,  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock.  The 
Twenty-seventh  New  York  Regiment,  Col.  Bartlett,  was  on  picket  during 
the  night  of  the  6th.  Three  companies  helped  to  commence  the  contest 
on  the  next  day.  They  behaved  well;  and  Capt.  Jay,  of  that  regiment, 
was  distinguished  for  his  good  conduct  and  good  sense.  The  other 
seven  companies  of  this  regiment  supported  Wilson's  Battery  during  the 
day.  I  recommend  to  your  favorable  consideration  Gens.  Slocum  and 
Newton,  who  commanded  the  left  and  right  wings  ;  both  showed  superior 
skill  in  placing  troops  on  the  field.  I  regret  that  our  loss  was  so  heavy, 
but  it  is  no  larger  than  might  have  been  anticipated,  considering  the 
severity  of  the  attack  and  the  numbers  engaged  on  both  sides. 
Very  respectfully  yours, 

W.   B.    FRANKLIN, 

Commanding  Division. 


HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,      ) 
NEAR  WKST  POINT,  Va.,  May  7,  1862.  ( 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  the  engagement  which  occurred, 
to-day,  I  was  in  command  of  the  centre  and  left  wing  of  our  forces.  It 
was  apparent,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  engagement,  that  the 
efforts  of  the  enemy  were  to  be  directed  mainly  against  our  right  wing  ; 
and  at  the  request  of  Gen.  Newton,  I  sent  reinforcements  to  him.  consist 
ing  of  the  Fifth  Maine,  and  the  Sixteenth  and  Twenty-seventh  New  York, 


GENERAL   NEWTON'S    RETORT.  39 

which  arc  attached  to  the  brigade  under  my  command.  All  of  our  troops, 
so  far  as  my  observation  extended,  behaved  with  great  coolness  and 
bravery.  The  First  Massachusetts  Battery,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Porter,  is  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  accuracy  of  its  fire. 

I    am   greatly  indebted    to   ('apt.  H.  C.    Rogers  and   other  members  of 
my  staff,  all  of  whom  were  actively  engaged  during  the  entire  day. 
I  am,   sir,   very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant,  11.   W.   SLOCUM, 

Brigadier-General   Volunteers. 


HEAnoi'ARTKKS    TlllKD    BRIGADE,         ) 

WEST  POINT,  Va.,   May  8,  1862.  ) 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  result  of  the  action  with  the  enemy 
on  the  yth  instant.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  the  division  having 
landed  at  this  place  the  night  previous,  I  made,  as  far  as  time  permitted, 
an  examination  of  the  ground  upon  which  we  had  landed  ;  and  aided  by 
information  obtained  from  Captain  Jay,  of  the  Twenty-seventh  New  York 
Volunteers — whose  gallant  conduct  during  the  day  deserves  honorable 
mention — I  became  satisfied  that  the  map  of  the  locality  furnished  us  was 
entirely  incorrect,  in  a  military  point  of  view  ;  in  consequence  of  which 
it  became  necessary  to  change  the  location  of  my  brigade  to  the  right  of 
the  position. 

A  little  before  9  A.  M.  the  pickets  commenced  firing  on  the  front  of  the 
right  of  our  position,  and  I  immediately  directed  Capt.  Hexamer's  battery 
to  harness  up  and  proceed  to  that  point.  Pickets  then  signaled  the  en 
emy  approaching  in  large  force,  with  cavalry  and  artillery,  upon  the  right, 
which  was  occupied  by  my  brigade.  Soon  the  firing  of  musketry  in  front 
became  very  quick  and  rapid,  and  in  heavy  volleys,  indicating  the  presence 
of  a  large  force  before  us.  After  a  gallant  and  obstinate  resistance,  our 
pickets  and  several  reconnoitering  parties  which  had  been  sent  out,  were 
driven  in  by  overwhelming  forces.  The  pickets  fell  back  in  good  order, 
and,  being  reinforced  by  two  regiments,  were  again  sent  forward.  By 
ii  A.  M.  the  force  of  the  enemy  engaged  had  become  so  great  that  my  men 
were  forced  back  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  retiring  slowly  and  in  excellent 
order.  I  then  threw  into  the  woods,  in  front  of  the  right,  four  regiments, 
with  directions  to  "feel"  the  enemy,  and  maintain  their  ground  at  all 
hazards.  I  am  happy  to  say  that  this  was  effectual,  and  that  for  three 
hours — until  3  p.  M.,  when  the  action  terminated — my  position  was  firmly 
held,  jwhen  the  enemy  slowly  retired. 


40       RECORD  OF  2?TH  REGIMENT  N.  V.  VOLS. 

Gen.  Slocum,  who  commanded  the  left  and  centre  ot  the  division,  gen 
erously  furnished  me  with  all  the  assistance  I  required.  Among  the  troops 
engaged  on  our  side  were  three  companies  of  the  Twenty-seventh  New 
York.  All  the  troops  engaged  behaved  with  great  steadiness. 

Our  loss  in  the  action  was  over  200,  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
I  regret  to  add  a  long  list  of  killed  and  wounded  among  the  officers  en 
gaged. 

Capt.  Hess,  of  the  Thirty-first  New  York,  with  a  single  company  in 
front  of  a  regiment  of  the  enemy,  was  killed,  and  his  two  lieutenants  were 
wounded — one  mortally,  and  the  other  severely.  Of  this  one  company  all 
the  non-commissioned  officers,  save  one,  were  killed,  and  forty  privates 
killed  and  wounded, — evincing  a  degree  of  heroism  which  is  worthy  of  all 
praise. 

All  the  troops  engaged  behaved  with  great  steadiness,  and  there  were 
many  other  instances  of  heroism  among  the  officers  and  men  brought  to 
my  notice,  but  they  are  too  numerous  to  be  included  in  a  report. 

The  enemy  committed  inhuman  barbarities  upon  some  of  the  wounded. 
One  was  found  with  his  throat  cut,  and  another  bore  the  marks  of  eight 
bayonet  stabs  in  his  body. 

I  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  correctly  the  force  of  the  enemy.  We 
know,  however,  that  it  was  at  least  Gen.  Whiting's  division,  including  the 
Hampton  Legion.  Besides  this  large  body  of  the  enemy,  a  reserve  at 
least  20,000  strong  was  supporting  the  attacking  force.  The  attack  which 
they  made  was  evidently  with  a  view  to  prevent  the  division  molesting 
their  line  of  retreat,  and  to  drive  us  into  the  river,  if  they  obtained  the 
advantage.  The  gunboats  rendered  efficient  service  by  throwing  shells 
into  the  enemy,  at  a  distance  of  two  miles.  At  the  end  of  the  day  we 
occupied  a  position  in  advance  of  that  held  at  the  commencement  of  the 
action. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN     NEWTON, 
Commanding  Right  Wing  General  Franklin's  Division. 


ROSTER  OF  SIXTH  ARMY  CORPS. 

MAJOR-GEN.  WM.  B.  FRANKLIN,  COMMANDING. 
IN  THE  PENINSULAR  CAMPAIGN,  1862. 


FIRST    DIVISION. 

Major-General    II.  \V.  SLOCUM,  Commanding. 
First  Brigade. — Col.  A.  T.  A.  ToRBKRT. —  1st,  2cl,  3d  and 
4th  New  Jersey  Volunteers. 

Second  Brigade. — Col,  J.  J.  BAkTLKTT.—  i6th  and  2;th 
New  York,  5th  Maine  and  Q6th  Pennsylvania. 

Third  Brigade. — Brigadier-Gen.  JOHN  NEWTON. —  iSth, 
3 1st  and  32d  New  York  Volunteers,  and  95th  Pennsylvania 
(Gosline  Zouaves.) 

ARTILLERY. 

Platt's  Battery  D,  2d  United  States — Six  Napoleon  guns. 

Porter's  A,  Massachusetts — Four  lo-pound  Parrott  guns; 
two  12-pound  howitzers. 

Hexamer's  A,  New  Jersey — Four  lo-pound  Parrott  guns; 
two  12-pound  howitzers. 

Wilson's  F,  New  York — Four  3-inch  Ordnance  guns. 

SECOND   DIVISION. 

Major-Gen.  WILLIAM  F.  SMITH,  Commanding. 

First  Brigade. —  Brigadier-Gen.  W.  S.  HANCOCK. —  5th 
Wisconsin,  49th  Pennsylvania,  43d  New  York,  6th  Maine. 

Second  Brigade. — Brigadier-Gen.  W.  H.  BROOKS. — 2d,  3d, 
4th,  5th  and  6th  Vermont  Volunteers. 

Third  Brigade. —  Brigadier-Gen.  DAVIDSON. — 33d,  77th, 
49th  New  York  Volunteers,  and  7th  Maine  Volunteers. 

ARTILLERY. 

Ayres's  F,  5th  United  States — Four  lo-pound  Parrotts 
and  two  Napoleons. 

Mott's  3d  New  York  Battery — Four  lo-pound  Parrotts 
and  two  Napoleons. 

Wheeler's  E,  1st  New  York — Four  3-inch  Ordnance  guns. 

Kennedy's  1st  New  York  Battery — Six  3-inch  Ordnance 
guns. 


42  RECORD   OF   2JTH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

The  next  morning  after  the  battle  a  detail  from  our  regi 
ment  accompanied  Gen.  Slocum  beyond  our  lines,  to  ascer 
tain  the  position  and  numbers  of  the  enemy.  Marching 
through  the  woods,  evidences  of  the  conflict  of  the  previ 
ous  day  were  noticeable  on  all  sides.  Large  trees  were 
splintered  by  the  gunboat  shells,  dead  soldiers  were  strewn 
here  and  there,  and  the  ambulance  force  was  busy  gathering 
the  bodies  for  burial.  As  the  escort  was  moving  leisurely 
along,  they  met  two  colored  men  coming  in  from  the  en 
emy's  lines.  They  were  carefully  questioned  by  the  Gen 
eral,  as  to  the  location  and  numbers  of  the  enemy.  One 
of  the  colored  men  replied:  "  Bar's  heaps  ob  cicm  out  in 
de  field.  Dis  poor  uneducated  nigger  can't  count  'em,  but 
dey's  like  the  locusts  of  Egypt,'  and  dat's  as  near  as  I  can 
cipher  it,  Massa."  The  escort. did  not  advance  further,  but 
soon  after  returned  to  camp.  Two  days  the  regiment  lay 
in  camp  three  miles  from  the  battle-field,  at  Brick  House 
Point,  and  on  the  nth  moved  to  Eltham.  While  here 
Gen.  McClellan  rode  through  our  camp,  and  the  same  day 
it  \vas  announced  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated  Norfolk. 
We  then  began  to  move  up  the  peninsula,  in  the  rear  of 
the  rebel  army,  which  was  gradually  drawing  closer  to 
Richmond. 


A    LOYAL    SECESSION    SONG.  43 

As  we  advanced,  in  a  deserted  rebel  encampment  we 
found  numerous  loyal  secession  songs,  which  their  soldiers 
were  encouraged  to  sing.  The  following  is  a  sample : 


Come,  all  ye  sons  of  freedom,  and  join  our  Southern  band  ; 
We  are  going  to  fight  the  enemy,  and  drive  them  from  our  land. 
Justice  is  our  motto,  and   Providence  our  guide, 
So   jump  into  the  wagon,  and  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 

CHORUS — Wait  for  the  wagon, 

The  dissolution  wagon  ; 
The  South  is  our  wagon, 
And  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 

Secession  is  our  password,  and  our  rights  we'll  all  demand, 
And  to  defend  our  firesides  we  pledge  our  hearts  and  hands  ; 
Jeff.  Davis  is  our  President,  with  Stephens  by  his  side, 
Brave  Beauregard,  our  General,  will  join  us  in  the  ride. 
CHORUS. 

Our  wagon's  plenty  large  enough,  our  running-gear  is  good, 
It's  stuffed  with  cotton  around  the  sides,  and  made  of  Southern  wood 
South  Carolina  is  the  driver,  with  Georgia  by  her  side, 
Virginia  will  hold  our  flag  up,  and  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 
CHORUS. 

There's  Tennessee  and  Texas  also  in  the  ring  ; 
They  wouldn't  have  a  government  where  Cotton  isn't  king  ; 
Alabama,  too,  and   Florida  have  long  ago  replied  ; 
Mississippi  is  in  the  wagon,  and  anxious  for  a  ride. 
CHORUS. 

Kentucky  and  Maryland  are  slow  ; 
They  must  join  ere  long,  or  where  will  they  go? 
The  Missouri  boys  are  ready  to  join  our  noble  tide, 
So  come  along,  brave  Jackson,  and  join  us  in  the  ride. 
CHORUS. 

Our  cause  is  just  and  holy,  our  men  are  brave  and  true  ; 
To  whip  the  Lincoln  invaders,  is  all  we  have  to  do. 
God  bless  our  noble  army, — in   Him  we  all  confide, 
So  jump  into  the  wagon,  and  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 

CHORUS — Wait  for  the  wagon, 

The  dissolution  wagon  ; 
The  South  is  our  wagon, 
And  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 


44  RECORD    OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

On  the  1 3th  started  at  3  A.  M.,  and  after  a  ten-mile  march 
in  the  scorching  sun,  we  reached  the  sandy  plain  of  Cum 
berland.  Here  we  formed  a  junction  with  our  main  army, 
that  had  come  up  from  Yorktown  by  way  of  Williamsburg. 
Soon  after  getting  into  camp,  the  enemy  made  a  dash  on 
our  wagon  train,  which  created  some  alarm.  We  were 
called  into  line,  but  the  excitement  was  soon  over.  Cum 
berland  was  made  a  base  of  supplies  for  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac ;  and  while  here  Gen.  McClellan  organized  two 
additional  army  corps :  the  Fifth  Corps  to  be  commanded 
by  Fitz  John  Porter,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  to  be  commanded 
by  Franklin.  By  this  change,  Franklin's  division  and 
W.  F.  Smith's  division  constituted  the  Sixth  Corps,  and 
Gen.  Slocum  assumed  command  of  the  First  Division. 
Col.  Bartlett  was  put  in  command  of  Slocum's  brigade,  and 
the  2/th  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Lieut.-Col.  Adams. 

May  1 5th,  broke  camp  at  daylight,  and  marched  to  White 
House  (about  eight  miles),  on  the  Pamunky  River, — a  place 
where  it  is  said  Gen.  Washington  first  met  the  widow  Custis, 
who  afterwards  became  his  wife.  Rained  hard  all  day  ;  the 
roads  muddy,  and  baggage  delayed.  All  agreed  that  it  was 
one  of  the  most  fatiguing  marches  the  regiment  had  ever 
made.  We  were  not  allowed  to  take  the  fence  rails  for 
fires,  and  we  passed  a  cheerless,  tedious  night. 

May  2Oth,  marched  to  Tunstall's  Station.  Here  the  mile- 
posts  on  the  railroad  read:  "To  Richmond  18  miles." 
Towards  evening,  advanced  three  miles,  and  bivouacked 
after  dark.  The  next  day  we  moved  on  to  Cold  Harbor, 
on  the  Chickahominy  River ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
22d,  in  company  with  the  i6th  New  York,  a  section  of  ar 
tillery,  and  two  companies  of  the  First  New  York  Cavalry, 
we  were  sent  on  a  reconnoissance  towards  Mechanicsville, 
under  command  of  Col.  Bartlett,  and  advanced  about  six 
miles, — close  up  to  the  enemy's  lines.  After  ascertaining 
the  position  of  the  enemy,  we  returned  to  camp,  where  we 
arrived  about  1 1  P.  M.,  having  lost  only  two  cavalrymen- 
one  of  whom  was  killed,  and  the  other  captured. 

Col.  Bartlett  was  complimented  in  flattering  terms  by  his 


COL.  A.  D.  ADAMS. 


46       RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

superior  officers  for  his  skill,  and  the  important  information 
he  had  gained  as  to  the  position  and  numbers  of  the  enemy. 
The  next  morning  Stoneman  was  heard  pounding  away  at 
Mechanicsville,  which  soon  fell  into  our  hands. 

On  the  2/th  broke  camp,  at  daylight,  during  a  hard  rain 
storm,  and  marched  into  Mechanicsville.  Pitched  our  tents 
in  a  beautiful  grove,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  a  large 
hotel,  built  on  the  crest  of  a  high  bank,  which  sloped  back 
some  distance  from  the  Chickahominy.  It  was  a  lovely 
spot,  five  miles  from  Richmond,  and,  in  ante-bellum  days, 
a  favorite  resort  for  people  riding  out  from  the  capital,  to 
spend  a  pleasant  afternoon  or  evening.  There  were  only  a 
half  dozen  houses  in  the  village,  all  of  which  showed  the 
marks  of  the  shelling  they  had  received  ;  and  a  shot  that 
passed  over  a  wheat  field  near  by,  had  cut  a  trough  just 
below  the  heads,  the  size  and  shape  of  the  under  side  of 
the  shot,  as  .clean  as  it  could  have  been  done  with  a  sickle. 

To  the  left  of  our  position  the  main  army  was  encamped. 
Previous  to  our  arrival,  the  bridges  over  the  Chickahominy 
had  been  destroyed,  and  McClellan  built  eleven  bridges, 
with  logway  approaches  across  the  swampy  bottom  lands 
which  border  the  stream.  These  were  all  soon  swept  away 
by  a  flood,  and  had  to  be  rebuilt.  From  this  camp  we  per 
formed  picket  duty  along  the  river,  going  as  far  north  as 
Meadow  Bridge, — the  enemy  saluting  us  with  an  occasional 
shell.  One  day  a  twelve-pound  conical  shell  came  whistling 
through  the  air,  and  buried  itself  in  the  ground  near  a  re 
serve  party.  As  it  did  not  explode,  the  men  dug  it  up  and 
took  it  to  a  gunner  of  Upton's  battery,  who  inserted  a  new 
fuse,  and  sent  it  back,  aiming  at  a  supply  train  that  was 
passing  in  the  distance.  It  struck  and  blew  up  a  wagon 
loaded  with  ammunition, — the  gunner  sustaining  his  repu 
tation  of  being  the  best  shot  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

A  prominent  object  of  interest  to  all  the  soldiers,  since 
landing  on  the  peninsula,  has  been  Prof.  Lowe's  captive 
balloon,  which  is  attached  to  headquarters,  and  in  which 
some  of  the  officers  make  an  ascent  nearly  every  day,  for 
the  purpose  of  inspecting  the  rebel  lines  and  watching  their 


A    PERILOUS   BALLOON   ASCENSION.  47 

movements.  Occasionally  the  rebels  train  a  gun  on  it,  and 
try  to  reach  it  with  a  shell.  They  do  not  succeed,  however; 
but  one  of  these  shells,  the  other  morning,  came  over  our 
lines,  and  dropped  down  into  the  cook-house  at  Gen.  Slo- 
cum's  headquarters,  scattering  the  camp  kettles  and  demor 
alizing  the  cooks, — who  were  just  then  preparing  breakfast. 
Sometimes  these  ascents  are  quite  perilous, — at  least  the 
one  made  by  Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter,  in  front  of  Yorktown, 
early  in  April,  proved  to  be.  The  following  account  of  it 
is  taken  partly  from  the  New  York  Herald  : 

YORKTOWN,  Va.,  April   u,  1862. 

The  exciting  event  of  the  day  has  been  a  balloon  reconnoissance,  by 
Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter,  on  a  scale  of  rather  larger  magnitude  than  was 
intended.  At  5  o'clock  in  the  morning  Gen.  Porter  took  his  place  in 
Prof.  Lowe's  balloon.  He  supposed  the  usual  number  of  ropes  were 
attached  to  it,  whereas  there  was  only  one  ;  and  a  place  in  this,  as  was  ' 
afterwards  ascertained,  had  been  burned  by  vitriol  used  in  generating  gas. 
Taking  his  seat  in  the  car,  unaccompanied  by  any  one,  the  rope  was  let 
out  to  nearly  its  full  length — the  length  is  about  900  yards — when,  sud 
denly,  snap  went  the  cord  !  and  up  went  the  balloon  !  This  was  an  un 
expected  part  of  the  programme.  The  men  below  looked  up  with  aston 
ishment,  and  the  general  looked  down  with  equal  bewilderment. 

"  Open  the  valve  !"  shouted  one  of  the  men  below.  "  I'll  manage  it," 
responded  the  general.  Up  went  the  balloon  !  higher  !  !  higher  !  !  !  It 
rose  with  great  rapidity,  and  the  wind  was  taking  it  directly  over  the  en 
emy's  lines.  Bv  this  time  every  staff  officer  and  hundreds  of  others  were 
looking  at  the  run-away  monster.  It  was  impossible  to  describe  the  anx 
iety  felt  and  expressed  for  the  fate  of  him,  the  brave  general,  who  was 
thus,  apparently,  being  taken  directly  into  the  enemy's  hands.  In  the 
meantime  the  general,  having  no  wish  to  drop  in  among  the  rebels, 
thought  it  best  to  let  the  valve  take  care  of  itself  ;  and,  throwing  out  a 
little  ballast,  soon  rose  out  of  the  reach  of  the  rebel  bullets,  and  employed 
his  time  in  taking  notes  of  the  rebel  objects  below.  Crowds  of  soldiers 
rushed  from  their  tents,  and  he  could  hear  their  shouts  distinctly.  The 
map  of  the  country  was  clearly  discernible.  He  saw  Yorktown  and  its 
works  ;  York  River  and  its  windings. 

Fortunately  a  counter  current  of  air  struck  the  balloon,  and  its  course 
was  reversed.  Its  retreat  from  rebeldom  was  rapid,  and  when  safely  over 
our  lines,  he  opened  the  valve,  the  gas  escaped,  and  down  he  came.  The 


48  RECORD   Ol<    27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

car  struck  the  top  of  a  shelter  tent,  knocked  the  tent  into  "  pi,"  and  left 
him  enveloped  in  a  mass  of  collapsed  oil  silk.  He  crawled  out,  and 
found  himself  in  the  middle  of  a  camp,  not  a  hundred  rods  from  Gen. 
McClellan's  headquarters  ;  and  was  soon  surrounded  by  the  members  of 
his  staff  and  a  squad  of  cavalry,  who  had  ridden  out  in  the  direction  of 
the  descending  balloon. 

"  You  are  a  suspicious  character  !"  remarked  one  of  the  officers. 

"How  so?"  asked  the  general. 

"  In  the  space  of  half  an  hour,  you  have  been  taken  up  by  a  balloon, 
and  arrested  by  a  shelter  tent." 

Gen.  Porter  made  over  one  hundred  ascents  in  the  bal 
loon  while  on  the  peninsula. 

While  at  Mechanicsville  the  battle  of  Hanover  C.  H.  was 
fought,  May  27th,  Gen.  Porter  commanding ;  the  Fifth 
Corps  engaging  the  enemy,  who  had  fallen  back  from 
Fredericksburg  towards  Richmond.  Our  regiment  was 
ordered  to  be  prepared  for  action,  and  the  reserve  artillery 
in  the  grove  was  made  ready  for  an  attack. 

When  we  were  ordered  to  prepare  for  action,  a  recruit  in 
Co.  -  —  notified  his  captain  that  he  did  not  want  to  go 
to  the  front.  He  was  taken  over  to  headquarters  and  re 
ported  to  Gen.  Slocum,  when  he  began  to  cry,  and  begged 
to  be  sent  home.  The  general  made  game  of  him,  and 
called  him  a  big  baby.  "  I  wish  I  was  a  baby,  and  a  girl 
baby,  too  !"  whimpered  the  soldier.  His  tears,  however, 
did  not  avail,  and  he  was  sent  back  to  his  company,  where 
he  soon  learned  that  he  could  not  clear  right  out  every 
time  a  fight  was  brewing. 

The  roar  of  Porter's  conflict  was  distinctly  heard,  and 
all  indications  pointed  to  an  engagement  in  which  the  27th 
would  again  be  numbered.  Nothing  came  of  it,  however, 
as  Porter  soon  routed  the  enemy. 

On  the  night  of  the  3Oth  occurred  one  of  those  terrible 
thunder  storms  for  which  Virginia  is  noted.  The  rain  de 
scended  in  torrents,  the  flashes  of  lightning  were  vivid  and 
continuous,  and  the  thunder  at  times  seemed  to  fairly  shake 
the  earth,  and  at  others  sounded  like  volleys  of  musketry. 
In  the  morning  the  low  lands  were  deluged,  the  Chicka- 


A   MOVE   TO    DRAW    THE   ENEMY'S   FIRE.  49 

hominy  had  overflowed  its  banks,  the  bridges  were  swept 
away, — and  the  army  had  been  cut  in  two  by  the  rapid  and 
unlooked-for  rise  !  The  enemy,  taking  advantage  of  this 
condition  of  things,  determined  to  fall  upon,  and  if  possible 
crush  that  portion  south  of  the  river.  Accordingly,  on  the 
3 ist,  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  was  fought;  and  June  1st, 
that  of  Seven  Pines.  During  the  latter  battle  our  regiment 
was  called  out,  and  made  a  feint  upon  the  rebel  videttes  at 
the  Mechanicsville  bridge,  but  elicited  no  response.  All 
day  we  could  see  their  columns  moving  towards  Fair  Oaks, 
but  we  were  cut  off  from  crossing  the  river  to  the  support 
of  our  troops. 

June  ist,  the  regiment  went  on*  picket,  and  received  a 
good  shelling  from  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  A  few 
rounds  from  one  of  our  batteries  soon  silenced  them.  The 
paymaster  arrived  on  June  2d,and  we  received  two  months' 
pay. 

The  same  day  Gen.  McClellan  issued  the  following  order: 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ^ 

Camp  near  New  Bridge,  Va.,  June  2,  1862.  J 

Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  : 

1  have  fulfilled  at  least  a  part  of  my  promise  to  you.  You  are  now 
face  to  face  with  the  rebels,  who  are  at  bay  in  front  of  their  capital.  The 
final  and  decisive  battle  is  at  hand.  Unless  you  belie  your  past  history, 
the  result  cannot  for  a  moment  be  doubtful.  If  the  troops  who  labored 
so  patiently  and  fought  so  gallantly  at  Yorktown,  and  who  so  bravely  won 
the  hard  fights  at  Williamsburg,  West  Point,  Hanover  Court  House,  and 
Fair  Oaks,  now  prove  worthy  of  their  antecedents,  the  victory  is  surely 
ours.  The  events  of  every  day  prove  your  superiority  ;  wherever  you  have 
met  the  enemy  you  have  beaten  him  ;  wherever  you  have  used  the  bayo 
net,  he  has  given  way  in  panic  and  disorder.  I  ask  of  you  now  one  last 
crowning  effort.  The  enemy  has  staked  his  all  on  the  issue  of  the  coming 
battle.  Let  us  meet  and  crush  him  here,  in  the  very  centre  of  the  rebellion. 

Soldiers,  I  will  be  with  you  in  this  battle,  and  share  its  dangers  with 
you.  Our  confidence  in  each  other  is  now  founded  upon  the  past.  Let 
us  strike  the  blow  which  is  to  restore  peace  and  union  to  this  distracted 
land.  Upon  your  valor,  discipline  and  mutual  confidence  that  result  de 
pends.  GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major-General ,   Commanding. 


50  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

June  4th  the  regiment  was  again  on  picket,  and  on  the 
6th,  after  returning  from  picket,  received  orders  to  move. 
We  left  Mechanicsville  just  before  sunset,  and  made  a  de 
tour  of  several  miles  to  the  right  of  the  direct  route,  and 
reached  our  former  camp  at  New  Bridge  just  before  mid 
night.  The  next  morning  we  were  called  in  line  at  3  A.  M., 
and  stood  under  arms  until  daylight,  expecting  an  attack. 

During  the  8th  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  building 
corduroy  roads  across  the  Chickahominy  swamp  ;  and  on 
the  Qth  received  another  lively  shelling  from  one  of  the 
enemy's  batteries. 

Went  on  picket  again  on  the  1 3th,  and  on  this  date  the 
rebel  Gen.  Stuart,  with  about  two  hundred  men,  made  the 
entire  circuit  of  our  army,  capturing  two  companies  of  the 
5th  U.  S.  Cavalry. 

June  1 5th  again  we  were  at  work  on  the  corduroy  ap 
proaches  to  the  bridges  across  the  Chickahominy,  and  con 
tinued  at  this  work  till  the  i8th,  when  we  moved  across  the 
river,  to  the  south  side. 

There  were  now  eleven  of  these  trestle-work  bridges 
across  the  river.  The  one  on  which  we  crossed  is  named 
Woodbury's  Bridge,  after  Gen.  Woodbury,  of  the  Engineer 
Brigade,  who  constructed  it  ;  and  it  was  regarded  as  a  tri 
umph  of  military  engineering.  The  approach  to  the  bridge 
on  the  north  side,  from  the  foot  of  the  hill,  was  of  earth, 
raised  about  three  feet.  Deep  lateral  ditches  were  made, 
and  the  earth  from  these  was  thrown  upon  a  layer  of  brush. 
There  were  about  twenty  cribs  built  upon  the  swampy 
shore  and  into  the  stream,  and  beyond  these,  six  framed 
trestles.  On  the  other  side,  there  were  twenty  more  cribs, 
or  firm,  compact  log  piers.  Stringers  extended  from  cribs 
to  trestles,  and  from  trestles  to  cribs  upon  the  other  side  of 
the  stream.  Upon  these  were  laid  logs  of  nearly  uniform 
size,  for  the  floor  of  the  bridge  ;  and  these  were  ballasted 
on  either  hand  by  sticks  of  timber,  which  extended  parallel 
with  the  stringers.  The  driveway,  which  was  eleven  feet 
between  these  timbers,  was  covered  with  earth.  The  ap 
proach  to  the- bridge  from  the  south  side  was  of  raised  cor- 


BUILDING  BRIDGES.  51 

duroy.  The  length  of  the  whole  structure,  including  the 
approaches,  was  4,200  feet.  The  length  of  the  bridge 
proper  was  nearly  1,100  feet. 

Having  crossed,  we  moved  forward  over  the  corduroy, 
through  the  wood,  into  the  open  country,  and  went  into 
camp  on  Garnett's  Farm,  between  the  river  and  the  battle 
field  of  Fair  Oaks.  We  were  now  so  close  to  the  enemy's 
lines  that  when  on  picket,  in  the  still  morning,  we  could 
hear  roll-call  in  their  camp.  Here  we  constructed  bough 
houses,  as  a  protection  from  the  scorching  sun. 

While  here  we  had  more  road-building,  till  the  23d,  when 
we  took  a  rest  from  this  work,  many  of  the  men  having  be 
come  sick  with  malaria,  which  they  had  contracted  while 
working  in  the  swamps. 

June  2d,  at  9  o'clock,  we  struck  tents  ;  then  policed  the 
camp,  and  pitched  tents  in  regular  order,  making  a  nice 
camp.  There  was  heavy  firing  on  our  left  most  of  the  day. 
During  the  night  there  was  a  heavy  thunder  shower  ;  the 
lightning  struck  and  killed  two  horses  in  the  camp  of  the 
96th  Pennsylvania. 

Again,  at  2  A.  M.  of  the  24th,  we  heard  the  bugler  sound 
the  notes  of  reveille,  and,  after  roll-call,  were  ordered  to 
stack  arms,  and  have  all  equipments  hanging  on  the  stacks, 
canteens  all  filled  with  water,  and  to  hold  ourselves  in  read 
iness  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  All  day  long  there 
was  picket-firing  on  the  right. 

The  bugle  routs  us  out  again,  at  3  o'clock  on  the  25th, 
and  we  lay  on  our  arms  all  day  ;  heavy  skirmishing  by  the 
pickets  all  day,  till  12  at  night.  We  were  called  in  line 
three  times  after  dark,  but  everything  quieted  down,  and 
we  slept  the  balance  of  the  night.  During  the  forenoon  of 
the  26th  all  was  quiet,  and  till  3  P.  M.,  when  suddenly  a  per 
fect  storm  of  cannonading  burst  on  our  ears,  from  the  direc 
tion  of  Mechanicsville,  and  continued  late  into  the  night. 
It  moved  back  in  the  direction  of  Games'  Mill,  and  we  infer 
that  our  troops  are  falling  back. 

On  this  date,  it  will  be  remembered,  Mrs.  Howlancl,  wife 
of  Col.  Howland,  of  the  i6th  New  York,  at  her  own  ex- 


52       RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

pense,  furnished  every  man  in  the  i6th  with  a  neat,  com 
fortable  straw  hat.  They  looked  so  comfortable  this  hot 
morning,  that  our  boys,  wearing  their  fatigue-caps,  almost 
envied  them. 

Hark !  At  3  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  2/th,  the  bugle  sounds, 
and  we  are  called  out  and  marched  down  to  protect  a  bridge 
across  the  Chickahominy.  Here  we  lay  quiet  all  the  morn 
ing,  stretched  under  the  comfortable  shade  of  the  trees. 
Some  played  cards  ;  others  dozed  away  the  time,  under  the 
soothing  influence  of  the  sound  of  cannon,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  where  the  Fifth  Corps,  under  Gen.  Fitz  John 
Porter,  was  engaging  the  enemy.  About  2  l>.  M.  we  saw 
one  of  Gen.  McClellan's  aids  ride  up  to  division  headquar 
ters,  and  after  a  few  hurried  words  with  Gen.  Slocum,  gal 
lop  away.  Soon  the  entire  division  was  ordered  into  line, 
and,  turning  to  the  left,  took  the  road  towards  Alexander's 
Bridge,  across  the  Chickahominy.  After  crossing,  we  moved 
a  short  distance  towards  the  left  of  the  line  of  battle,  when 
we  were  halted,  and  our  brigade  was  detached  from  the 
division,  and  marched  rapidly  to  the  right,  behind  the  en 
tire  line  of  battle,  to  the  extreme  right  flank.  The  shot 
and  shell  of  the  enemy's  guns,  passing  over  the  line  of  bat 
tle,  fell  in  our  ranks  all  along  the  march.  This  march,  mid 
the  din  and  confusion,  the  screaming  of  shot  and  shell,  the 
"  zip  "  of  minie  balls,  was  a  good  test  of  the  metal  of  our 
regiment. 

Reaching  the  right,  we  were  ordered  to  seek  shelter  in  a 
small  ravine  in  the  rear  and  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  crest 
on  which  Sykes'  division  of  regulars  and  the  5th  and  loth 
New  York  Volunteers  were  stubbornly  holding  in  check  the 
overwhelming  numbers  of  the  advancing  rebels.  As  we  lay 
in  line,  the  half-spent  balls  from  the  enemy's  guns,  passing 
over  the  crest,  came  pattering  down  all  about  us,  like  the 
big  drops  of  rain  on  a  dusty  road,  preceding  a  hard  shower 
in  the  summer  time, — their  places  marked  by  little  puffs 
of  dust,  making  our  position  very  uncomfortable.  We 
saw  that  several  regiments  of  the  regulars  were  stag 
gering  under  the  terrible  fire, — when  our  brigade  was  or- 


GALLANT   CHARGE   AT   GAINES     MILL.  53 

dered  up,  and  one  regiment  after  another  was  moved  for 
ward,  deployed  to  the  right,  and  placed  in  position  on 
the  crest.  First  the  i6th  New  York,  led  by  Col.  How- 
land  ;  then  the  Q6th  Pennsylvania,  Col.  John  Cake;  the 
5th  Maine,  Col.  Jackson;  and  then  the  27th,  led  by  Lieut.- 
Col.  Adams,  and  Gen.  Bartlett,  in  person,  was  ordered 
to  fix  bayonets,  and,  with  three  ringing  cheers,  charged  at 
double  quick  up  the  slope,  driving  the  enemy  from  the  left 
crest  of  the  hill,  on  which  there  was  a  dwelling  and  numer 
ous  out-houses.  No  rebel  troops,  however  brave,  could 
stand  the  unearthly  yell  that  we  had  learned  to  give.  A 
part  of  our  line  encountered  a  picket  fence,  along  a  garden 
near  the  McGee  house.  This  they  quickly  battered  down 
with  the  butt  end  of  their  muskets,  and  moved  on  and  took 
possession  of  the  dwelling  and  out-houses,  from  which  the 
enemy  had  been  driven,  capturing  several  prisoners,  and 
among  them  two  officers.  A  large  body  of  fresh  troops 
soon  appeared  in  our  front,  but  every  man  held  to  his  place 
and  nobly  maintained  the  fight,  without  giving  an  inch  of 
ground  to  the  enemy,  until  long  after  darkness  came  over 
us,  and  the  position  of  the  rebels  could  be  known  only  by 
the  flash  of  their  guns. 

About  dark  it  was  reported  to  our  Colonel  that  the  i6th 
had  moved  partly  into  our  front,  and  that  we  were  firing 
on  our  own  men.  He  gave  the  order  to  cease  firing,  but  at 
that  moment  our  supposed  friends  poured  a  volley  into  us, 
at  close  range,  which  our  boys,  not  \vaiting  for  orders,  re 
turned  with  interest,  and  the  rebel  regiment  turned  and  fled 
down  the  road  whence  they  came.  We  continued  to  fire, 
aiming  at  the  flash  of  the  enemy's  guns,  until  near  9  o'clock, 
when  Gen.  Bartlett,  riding  up,  gave  the  order  to  retire.  We 
now  discovered  that  we  were  the  last  regiment  to  leave  the 
field,  all  the  regiments  on  the  right  having  been  withdrawn  ; 
and  the  order  did  not  come  a  minute  too  soon,  for  a  brigade 
of  rebels  had  already  advanced  past  our  left,  and  were  al 
most  in  our  rear.  The  regiment  left  the  field  in  good  order, 
marching  as  if  on  parade,  and  bringing  off  nearly  all  our 
wounded,  including  Major  Gardiner,  who  had  been  disabled 


MAJOR  C.  C.  GARDINER. 


A    MAN    SHOT   WITH    A   CRACKER.  55 

early  in  the  action  by  the  concussion  of  a  shell  ;  and  Capt. 
White,  of  Co.  B,  who  had  been  shot  through  the  hip,  and 
was  lying  on  the  ground  in  rear  of  his  company. 

Again  a  line  of  battle  was  formed,  near  the  ravine  in 
which  we  took  shelter  in  the  afternoon,  and  we  remained 
here  till  about  12:30,  when  we  retired  across  the  river,  and 
returned  to  the  camp  that  we  had  left  in  the  morning. 

In  this  battle  there  were  several  incidents  which  many  of 
the  men  will  recall.  In  Company  "  C,"  just  as  the  charge 
was  ordered,  a  certain  man  threw  a  cracker  at  private  —  — , 
who,  previous  to  this  battle,  had  been  on  detached  service. 
The  cracker  hit  him  on  the  leg,  when  he  fell  as  if  shot,  and 
left  the  field.  The  next  day  he  was  read  off  on  parade  as 
a  coward. 

Two  men  in  the  same  company,  during  the  hottest  of  the 
firing,  stood  up  and  had  a  fierce  fist  fight.  One,  it  seems, 
had  stepped  upon  the  other  while  he  was  lying  down,  and 
the  other  demanded  satisfaction.  The  captain  had  to 
move  to  the  left  of  the  line  and  part  them. 

In  Company  "  B,"  tw^o  men  were  shot  through  the  leg  by 
the  same  ball,  and  afterwards  both  of  them  died  from  the 
shock,  after  undergoing  amputation. 

As  we  withdrew  from  the  field  and  approached  the  river, 
numerous  little  fires  were  burning,  at  which  soldiers  were 
stationed  to  direct  stragglers  to  their  regiments.  These 
men  were  calling  out :  "  This  way  to  the  1st  Jersey !  "  "  This 
way  to  the  loth  New  York!"  etc.;  and,  a  little  further  on, 
some  wag  had  seated  himself  on  a  gate  post,  and  was  call 
ing  out,  "  This  way  for  Broadway  and  Fifth  Ave !"  His 
grim  humor  put  new  life  into  many  a  weary  limb,  and  woke 
up  the  irrepressibles  all  along  the  line. 

During  the  night,  all  the  Federal  forces  were  withdrawn 
to  the  south  side  of  the  Chickahominy  ;  the  last  of  the  rear 
guard  crossing  after  daylight,  destroyed  the  bridge  behind 
them. 

In  this  battle  of  Games'  Mill  the  regiment  lost  heavily: 
12  men  were  killed,  10  officers  and  106  men  wounded,  and 
23  men  missing. 


CAPT.  H.  R.  WHITE,  Co.  "  B. 


CASUALTIES   AT   GAINES'    MILL.  57 

Every  man  in  the  regiment  has  reason  to  feel  proud  of 
his  record  made  in  this  engagement.  The  brilliant  charge 
of  the  regiment  up  the  slope,  and  the  stubborn  manner  in 
which  they  held  the  ground  from  which  the  regulars  had 
been  driven,  even  in  the  face  of  the  fresh  troops  that  the 
enemy  hurled  against  the  position,  and  the  steady  manner 
and  perfect  order  in  which  they  made  the  retreat,  were  fully 
recognized  in  the  general  orders  of  commanding  officers. 

All  about  us,  in  the  gathering  darkness,  lay  the  bodies  of 
the  dead  and  wounded  ;  the  blue  and  the  gray  were  mixed. 
The  gray,  the  blue,  and  the  artillerymen,  in  their  red- 
trimmed  uniforms,  lay  side  by  side,  while  the  blood  flowing 
from  their  wounds  mingled  together.  So  night  closed  upon 
the  second  of  the  "  seven-days  "  fight  in  front  of  Richmond. 

The  Fifth  Corps  had  for  hours  alone  withstood  the  as 
saults  of  a  rebel  force  aggregating,  towards  night,  between 
sixty  and  seventy  thousand  men  ;  and,  at  the  close,  with 
the  aid  of  the  two  fresh  divisions — Slocum's  and  French's, 
with  the  Irish  brigade — had  caused  the  armies  of  Jackson 
and  Lee  to  halt. 

Twenty-two  cannon  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  the 
horses  having  been  killed  or  wounded.  Including  the  two 
supporting  divisions,  the  troops  under  Purler  numbered 
about  thirty-three  thousand  men. 

At  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill  the  Union  loss  was:  894 
killed;  3107  wounded;  2836  missing;  total,  6837,  or  one 
in  four  engaged.  On  the  Confederate  side  the  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  was  much  greater  than  ours. 

The  following  statement  from  Comrade  Wm.  H.  Lay,  of 
Co.  "  D,"  will  be  of  special  interest  to  the  friends  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill : 

"  On  the  day  of  the  battle,  I  made  a  mistake  in  not  keep 
ing  with  the  regiment  when  it  fell  back  to  the  second  line. 
I  remained  to  re-load  my  piece  and  give  the  rebs.  one  more 
shot,  before  doing  so.  On  going  back  to  the  line,  which 
had  re-formed  about  ten  rods  to  the  rear,  and  while  passing 
a  negro  cabin,  I  heard  Col.  Adams  give  the  order:  "  The 
2/th  this  way."  I  turned  in  behind  the  cabin,  and  was, 


58  RECORD    OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

with  two  others,  ordered  by  the  colonel  to  go  inside  and 
get  Henry  Frazer,  of  Co.  "  H,"  who  was  seriously  wounded, 
and  carry  him  to  the  rear. 

While  doing  so,  our  whole  line  fell  back — the  enemy  ad 
vanced,  and  we  were  caught !  This  was  soon  after  dark, 
and  we  were  placed  in  a  garden  near  by,  until  morning,  by 
which  time  the  number  of  prisoners  had  greatly  increased. 
Soon  after  daylight,  ten  or  fifteen  of  us  were  paroled,  and 
detailed  as  nurses  to  care  for  our  wounded — about  250  in 
number — the  most  of  whom  were  scattered  over  the  field 
where  they  fell.  We  did  not  finish  gathering  them  all  in 
from  the  field  until  Sunday  afternoon,  the  2Qth,  two  days 
after  the  battle.  All  the  prisoners,  except  the  nurses  and 
wounded,  were  sent  to  Richmond. 

The  suffering  of  the  wounded  was  intense,  as  the  pangs 
of  hunger  were  added  to  the  pain  from  their  wounds  and 
the  torture  of  the  amputation  table.  We  were  without 
food  of  any  consequence  until  the  4th  day  of  July,  when 
the  enemy  brought  and  issued  to  us  flour,  bacon,  salt,  etc. 
The  flour  we  made  into  dough,  and  baked  it  on  flat  stones, 
placed  around  a  fire  built  out  in  the  field.  This,  though 
as  heavy  as  lead,  the  men  eagerly  devoured,  and  seemingly 
could  never  get  enough  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  their 
hunger.  Death  came  to  the  relief  of  many  of  the  boys, 
whose  remains  we  buried  after  sundown  and  before  sunrise, 
as  we  were  too  weak  to  dig  graves  under  the  hot  sun. 

The  following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  2/th  boys  who  died 
there,  and  were  buried  by  us:  Corp.  James  H.  Burlison,  of 
Co.  "G;"  Eugene  Rappel,  of  Co.  "  G  ;"  Henry  M.  Gould, 
of  Co.  "G;"  Alexander  Miles,  of  Co.  "  G." 

I  searched  among  the  dead  for  the  bodies  of  Irwin  Burge 
and  Ira  Frederick,  of  Co.  "  D,"  who  were  killed  during 
the  charge,  but  did  not  succeed  in  finding  them.  They,  no 
doubt,  were  covered,  as  were  the  bodies  of  others  scattered 
all  over  the  field,  by  a  burial  party  of  the  enemy,  which  I 
saw  at  work  throwing  a  little  soil  over  them. 

At  the  end  of  eighteen  days,  all  who  were  left  there  were 
transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Savage  Station,  where  we  re- 


BATTLE   OF   GAINES'    MILL. 


[A, 

Morell's  Division  •< /?. 
(C. 


Butterfield's  Brigade. 
Martindale's         " 
Griffin's  " 

fZ>,  G,  S.   Warren's  Brigade. 
Sykes'  Division -j  J-'/^y 

\PtoH. 


Chapman's 
Buchanan's 
Bartlett's 


^  K.  Meade's  Brigade. 

McCall's  Division-;  L.  Seymour's      " 

I  M.  Reynold's       " 

N,  Cavalry. 


Artillery  Reserve  -   °- 


- 


M'CLELLANS  DISPATCH.  59 

mained  about  two  weeks,  when  the  wounded  were  all  placed 
aboard  cars  and  forwarded,  via  Richmond,  to  City  Point,  to 
be  paroled.  The  nurses,  after  reaching  Richmond,  were 
confined  in  Libby  Prison.  Here  two  more  weeks  slowly 
melted  away,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  occupants  of 
old  Libby  were  transferred  to  Bell  Isle,  and  fed  on  "  fly 
soup,"  u  beef-hair  soup,"  and  once  a  day  a  morsel  of  bread 
and  meat.  Sweeter  bread,  meat  and  soup,  I  never  tasted 
before  or  since(?) 

On  the  I4th  day  of  September,  the  seven  thousand  pris 
oners,  who  had  been  packed  in  the  small  space  of  two  acres, 
were  released  on  parole,  and  escorted  by  rebel  cavalry  down 
the  James  River  to  Aiken's  Landing;  were  placed  on  board 
of  our  transports  that  wrere  there  waiting  for  us,  and  were 
once  more  under  the  old  flag. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  Gen.  McClellan's  dis 
patch  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  Savage's  Station, 
12:30  A.  M.,  June  28th. 

"  I  now  know  the  whole  history  of  the  day.  On  this  side  of  the  river, 
the  right  bank,  we  repulsed  several  strong  attacks  ;  on  the  left  bank,  our 
men  did  all  that  soldiers  could  accomplish,  but  they  were  overwhelmed 
by  vastly  superior  numbers,  soon  after  I  had  brought  my  last  reserves  into 
action.  The  loss  on  both  sides  is  terrible  :  I  believe  it  will  prove  to  be 
the  most  desperate  battle  of  the  war.  The  sad  remnants  of  my  men  be 
haved  as  men  ;  those  battalions  who  fought  most  bravely,  and  suffered 
most,  are  still  in  the  best  order.  My  regulars  were  superb,  and  I  count 
upon  what  are  left  to  turn  another  battle,  in  company  with  their  gallant 
comrades  of  the  volunteers.  Had  I  twenty  thousand,  or  even  ten  thou 
sand,  fresh  troops  to  use  to-morrow,  I  could  take  Richmond  !  But  I  have 
not  a  man  in  reserve,  and  shall  be  glad  to  cover  my  retreat  and  save  the 
material  and  the  personnel  of  the  army.  If  we  have  lost  the  day,  we  have 
yet  preserved  our  honor,  and  no  one  need  blush  for  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac." 


60  RECORD    OF    2/TJL    REGIMENT    N.  V.  VO1.S. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  official  reports  : 

Report  of  Brigadier-Gen.  Henry  W.  Slocum,  command 
ing  First  Division. 

CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LAXDINI;,  Va.,  ^ 
July  8,  1862.  j 

SIR  : — On  the-  27th  of  June  last,  in  obedience  to  orders  received  from 
Gen.  Franklin,  1  ordered  the  brigade  commanded  .by  Gen.  Newton  to 
cross  Alexander's  Bridge,  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  to  the 
support  of  Gen.  Porter.  The  order  was  received  at  2  o'clock  r.  M.,  and 
the  brigade  immediately  moved,  in  light  marching  order.  At  2:30  i1.  M. 
I  was  ordered  to  cross  at  the  same  point,  with  the  remainder  of  my  division. 
The  movement  was  executed  at  once,  and  Gen.  Taylor's  brigade  crossed 
at  about  3  !'.  M.,  followed  by  the  brigade  of  Col.  Bartlett. 
Having  received  no  specific  directions  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  remain 
ing  brigade,  under  command  of  Col.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett,  of  the  2yth  New 
York,  I  directed  Col.  Bartlett  to  take  position  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
line,  near  the  new  road  leading  through  the  valley,  from  Dr.  Games'  house 
to  Alexander's  Bridge.  On  approaching  the  point  indicated,  Col.  Bartlett 
found  our  troops  engaged  to  the  right  of  his  position,  and  immediately 
moved  his  brigade  to  their  support.  He  was  subsequently  ordered  to  the 
right  of  the  line,  to  support  Gen.  Sykes,  whose  troops,  fatigued  by  the 
long  contest  of  this  and  the  previous  day,  were  nearly  overpowered  by  the 
overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy.  Porter's  battery  (A),  of  the  First 
Massachusetts  Artillery,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Col.  Bartlett, 
and  remained  with  his  brigade  during  the  day.  * 

As  to  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  division,  I  have  only 
to  say  that  the  division  entered  the  field  8,000  strong,  and  that  the  list  of 
killed,  wounded  and  missing  amounts  to  2,021.  These  lists  attest  the 
devotion  and  heroism  of  officers  and  men.  Notwithstanding  this  fearful 
loss,  all  the  regiments  left  the  field  in  good  order,  and  returned  to  their 
camps  in  the  same  compact  and  orderly  manner  that  marked  their  march  to 
the  scene  of  conflict.  The  brigade  commanders,  Gens.  Newton  and  Taylor, 
and  Col.  Bartlett,  are^each  entitled  to  the  greatest  praise,  not  only  for 
their  heroic  conduct  on  the  field,  but  for  their  untiring  efforts  after  the 
close  of  the  action,  in  bringing  off  the  wounded,  and  in  maintaining  order 
and  steadiness  amid  the  prevalent  confusion. 

The  loss  of  the  division  in  officers  was  particularly  severe,  not  only  in 
numbers,  but  in  the  character  of  those  killed  and  wounded.  Col.  Tucker 


SLOCUM'S.  AND  IJAKTLKTT'S  RKPOKTS.  61 

.nul  Major  Rycrson,  of  the  Second  New  Jersey,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Heath,  of 
the  Fiftli  Maine,  were  killed  while  gallantly  discharging  their  duty.  Their 
loss  is  deeply  felt  in  their  regiments  and  throughout  the  division,  and  will 
be  lamented  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Col.  Gosline  and  Maj.  Hubbs, 
of  the  Ninety-fifth  Pennsylvania,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Marsh,  of  the  Sixteenth 
New  York,  were  mortally  wounded,  and  have  since  died.  Col.  Howland, 
of  the  Sixteenth  New  York  ;  Col.  Pratt,  of  the  Thirty-First  New  York  ; 
Col.  Jackson,  of  the  Fifth  Maine  ;  Maj.  Gardiner,  of  the  Twenty-seventh 
New  York  ;  and  Maj.  Hatfield,  of  the  First  New  Jersey,  were  so  severely 
wounded  as  to  be  rendered  unfit  for  duty. 

Of  the  many  other  officers  of  less  rank — the  non-commissioned  officers 
and  soldiers — I  cannot  speak  in  detail.  Like  soldiers  and  like  men,  they 
performed  their  duty  and  met  their  fate,  and  a  grateful  country  will  long 
bear  them,  and  the  thousand  nameless  heroes  of  this  conflict,  who  have 
offered  up  their  lives  at  the  nation's  shrine,  in  lasting  and  honored  remem 
brance. 

H.  W.    SLOCUM, 

Commanding  First  Division  Sixth  Corps. 


Report   of   Col.  Jos.  J.   Bartlett,   Twenty-Seventh   New 

York  Infantry,  Commanding  Second    Brigade, 

of  the    Battle   of  Games'   Mill. 

H'ORS  2D  BRK;ADK,  (JEN.  SLOCUM'S  Div.,  GTII  PROV.  ARMY  CORPS,  / 
HARRISON'S  LANDING,   Ya.,  July  7,  1862.  ^ 

SIR  : — At  daylight  on  the  2yth  of  June,  I  put  my  command  under  arms, 
in  light  marching  order,  in  compliance  with  orders  from  Brigadier-Gen. 
H.  W.  Slocum,  commanding  division,  and  moved  at  5:30  A.  M.  to  a  posi 
tion  near  Duane's  Bridge.  About  10  o'clock  A.  M.  I  was  ordered  to  move 
back  to  camp.  While  on  the  march  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  of 
artillery  upon  our  lines,  and  I  was  once  more  ordered  back  to  the  bridge, 
to  prevent  any  attempted  passage  by  the  enemy,  who  were  now  threaten 
ing  Gen.  Porter's  forces  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Chickahominy. 

After  partially  destroying  the  bridge,  by  order  of  Gen.  W.  B.  Franklin, 
commanding  Sixth  Provisional  Army  Corps,  I  was  relieved  by  a  portion 
of  Gen.  Brooks'  brigade,  and  marched  about  2:30  o'clock,  pursuant  to 
orders  of  Gen.  Slocum,  to  cross  Woodbury's  Bridge,  and  hasten  to  the 
assistance  of  Gen.  Porter's  forces,  who  were  at  the  time  being  severely 


62       RECORD  OF  2?TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

pressed.  I  accordingly  reported  to  Brigadier-Gen.  Slocum,  on  the  first 
hill  rising  above  the  river  on  its  left  bank,  about  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  was 
ordered  by  him  to  proceed  to  the  extreme  left  and  engage  an  enemy,  who 
seemed  at  that  distance  to  be  turning  our  flank.  Nearing  the  position 
indicated,  it  was  found  to  be  thoroughly  protected  by  Acting  Brigadier- 
Gen.  Averell's  cavalry  and  Rush's  lancers,  and  that  the  enemy  was  being 
driven  by  our  infantry  through  the  woods.  I  discovered,  however,  that 
our  troops  were  being  repulsed  in  my  immediate  front,  and  hastened  to 
form  line  of  battle  to  support  our  hard-pressed  lines.  The  Sixteenth 
New  York,  which  led  my  brigade,  was  already  formed  and  moving  for 
ward,  when  I  was  ordered  by  an  aid-de-camp  of  Gen.  Porter,  command 
ing,  to  report  with  my  command  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  field,  to 
Brigadier-Gen.  Sykes,  commanding  the  division  of  regular  infantry, 
which  I  did  at  about  4:30  p.  M.,  suffering  a  loss  of  fifteen  killed  and 
wounded,  by  round  shot  and  shell,  while  making  the  flank  march  across 
the  whole  length  of  the  battle-field  from  left  to  right. 

Immediately  upon  reporting  to  Gen.  Sykes,  I  was  permitted  to  cover 
my  command  in  a  ravine  to  his  rear  and  right,  and  allow  the  men  to  rest, 
of  which  they  were  greatly  in  need.  Capt.  Porter's  First  Massachusetts 
battery  reported  to  me  at  this  juncture  for  orders,  and  seeing  no  chance 
to  engage  the  battery,  commanded  as  it  was  by  an  officer  whose  rare  merits 
and  brilliant  reputation  were  well  known  to  me,  I  was  obliged  to  shelter 
it  in  the  ravine  in  rear  of  my  infantry,  which  position  it  kept  until  an 
enfilading  fire  from  a  battery  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  enemy's  line  was 
poured  upon  it,  to  which  it  was  impossible  to  reply  from  any  position 
that  could  be  taken  up  by  him.  I  then  ordered  it  to  take  position  to  the 
rear  in  the  second  line. 

At  5  o'clock  P.  M.  I  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Sykes  to  bring  forward  my 
men  to  support  the  troops  on  his  left  and  a  portion  of  his  own  command, 
who  were  unable  longer  to  withstand  the  fierce  attacks  and  withering  fire 
of  the  enemy,  who  were  slowly  but  surely  forcing  back  the  right  of  the 
entire  line  of  battle.  At  this  juncture  I  ordered  forward  the  Sixteenth 
New  York  Volunteers,  Col.  Joseph  Howland  commanding.  From  the 
position  of  the  regiment  it  was  necessary  to  change  front  forward  on  first 
company  under  the  most  terrific  fire  of  musketry,  with  the  shells  and 
round  shot  of  two  batteries  raking  over  the  level  plain,  making  it  seem 
ingly  impossible  for  a  line  to  withstand  the  fire  a  single  instant.  But 
with  the  calmness  and  precision  of  veteran  soldiers  the  movement  was 
executed,  and  the  line,  giving  three  cheers,  long  and  loud,  rushed  on  to 
relieve  their  now  routed  friends,  led  by  their  noble  colonel  and  myself  in 


BARTLETT'S  REPORT.  63 

person.  The  position  was  gained,  and  I  then  ordered  up  the  Ninety-sixth 
Pennsylvania,  Col.  Cake  commanding,  to  continue  my  line  to  the  left. 
The  murderous  fire  across  the  plain  rendered  it  almost  impossible  for 
their  gallant  colonel,  aided  by  Lieutenant-Col.  Frick  and  Major  Martin, 
to  form  his  line  of  battle  ;  and  I  am  pained  to  state  that  their  noble  exer 
tions  were  not  in  many  instances  seconded  by  some  of  the  line  officers, 
who  lacked  that  impulsive  enthusiasm  and  cool  determination  required  of 
them  under  such  trying  circumstances,  and  I  was  forced  to  lead  forward 
the  third  regiment  in  line,  the  5th  Maine  Volunteers,  Col.  N.  J.  Jackson. 
This  regiment  also  changed  its  front  in  the  most  soldierly  manner,  and 
under  the  sweeping  storm  of  iron  and  leaden  hail,  sent  up  their  battle- 
shout  and  rushed  upon  the  enemy,  forcing  back  his  lines  and  holding  the 
crest  of  the  hill  in  our  front,  from  which  our  troops  had  so  recently  been 
driven. 

The  Twenty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  Lieut. -Col.  A.  D.  Adams 
commanding,  was  now  ordered  to  the  front,  and  after  executing  the  same 
maneuver  of  changing  front  under  the  same  scathing  fire,  charged  bayo 
nets,  and  giving  three  ringing  cheers  rushed  at  double  quick  upon  the 
enemy,  who  occupied  the  left  crest  of  the  hill,  on  which  was  a  dwelling 
and  numerous  outhouses  ;  nor  did  they  stand  to  meet  the  impetuosity  of 
their  charge,  but  retreated  so  precipitately  that  they  left  as  prisoners  in 
our  hands  two  of  their  officers,  who  were  vainly  endeavoring  to  make 
them  stand  their  ground.  Thus  the  left  and  right  of  my  line  of  battle 
being  retaken  and  established,  and  the  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volun 
teers  being  in  line  and  eager  for  the  fight,  I  ordered  them  to  the  front, 
and  most  nobly  now  did  they  respond  to  the  command.  No  officer  or 
man  faltered,  and  their  solid  and  unwavering  line  pressed  forward  to 
their  position,  and  completed  the  front. 

The  enemy  now  hurled  his  fresh  troops  in  double  numbers  against  my 
line,  directing  his  heaviest  fire  upon  my  left,  and  the  Twenty-seventh  New 
York  Volunteers  and  Fifth  Maine  staggered  back  under  the  fearful  fire  ; 
but  it  was  the  recoil  of  the  lion  to  gather  new  strength  to  support  the  un 
daunted  resolution  of  every  breast,  and  once  more  every  man  sprang  to 
the  front,  where  they  nobly  maintained  the  fight,  without  giving  an  inch 
of  ground  to  the  enemy,  until  long  after  darkness  showed  the  flash  of 
every  musket,  and  revealed  to  the  enemy  how  small  a  force  was  holding 
them  in  check. 

To  meet  the  fire  which  came  from  our  left,  Col.  Howland,  who  held 
the  right  of  my  position,  changed  front  forward  on  tenth  company,  and 
the  line  thus  established  held  its  position  until  all  firing  of  musketry  had 


64  RECORD   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

ceased  on  the  field,  except  that  from  my  own  brigade;  and  not  until  nearly 
every  cartridge  had  been  expended,  was  the  order  given i to  retire  behind 
our  batteries,  which  were  posted  about  600  yards  in  the  rear. 

In  retiring,  I  first  withdrew  my  right  regiment  in  line  of  battle,  then 
the  next  from  the  right,  holding  the  two  left  regiments  to  protect  the 
movements,  as  I  was  completely  flanked  on  the  left  by  a  brigade  of  the 
enemy,  which  he  had  moved  up  in  the  darkness  from  the  woods,  and  had 
just  opened  a  galling  cross-fire  upon  my  left  and  rear. 

The  withdrawal  of  my  brigade  was  done  under  my  immediate  com 
mand,  regiment  by  regiment,  and  in  as  good  order  as  when  they  were 
taken  into  the  field. 

From  the  moment  my  troops  were  engaged  up  to  8:30  o'clock  p.  M.  (at 
which  hour  it  was  too  dark  to  distinguish  an  enemy  at  the  distance  of  fifty 
paces),  they  nobly  held  the  position  assigned  to  them,  and  regretted  the 
necessity  which  compelled  them  to  retire  from  the  field.  I  formed  a  new 
line  of  battle  in  front  of  the  hospital  on  the  second  hill  from  the  bridge, 
with  the  Twenty-seventh  and  Sixteenth  New  York,  and  a  part  of  the  Fifth 
Maine,  the  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  having,  by  some  unac 
countably  mistaken  order,  recrossed  the  bridge  and  returned  to  their  camp. 
At  12:30  A.  M  .  I  was  ordered  to  recross  the  Chickahominy,  and  repair  to 
the  camp  occupied  by  the  brigade  before  the  battle. 

With  many  painful  regrets  I  have  to  report  the  loss  of  five  hundred 
officers  and  men.  It  is  with  sorrow  that  I  record  the  death  of  Lieutenant- 
Col.  W.  S.  Heath.  Fifth  Maine  Volunteers,  who  was  killed  by  a  rifle-shot 
through  the  forehead,  while  gallantly  leading  his  men  to  the  charge.  Col. 
N.  }.  Jackson  being  wounded  in  the  arm  in  the  first  part  of  the  engage 
ment,  the  command  devolved  upon  this  able,  accomplished  and  devoted 
officer,  who  fell  nobly  discharging  his  duties  to  his  regiment,  his  State, 
and  his  country.  Lieutenant-Col.  Samuel  Marsh,  Sixteenth  New  York 
Volunteers,  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  neck  by  a  minie  ball  whilst 
riding  in  front  of  his  regiment,  waving  his  sword  and  cheering  his  men 
on  to  noble  deeds.  The  service  has  lost  in  Lieutenant-Col.  Marsh  an  able 
officer  and  a  true  patriot,  and  his  brother  officers  a  genial  companion  and 
a  noble  friend.  Lieut.  E.  T.  Ellrich,  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volun 
teers,  and  Lieut.  A.  M.  Barnard,  Sixteenth  New  York  Volunteers,  were 
killed  while  faithfully  and  fearlessly  discharging  their  duties. 

Were  I  to  direct  your  attention  to  the  bravery  and  efficiency,  the  cool 
ness  or  the  intrepidity  of  any  individual  officer,  I  fear  I  should  by  impli 
cation  wrong  the  majority  of  my  command.  In  the  reports  made  to  me 
bv  the  commanding  officers  of  regiments,  none  have  been  more  favorably 


BARTLKTT'S  RETORT.  6$ 

mentioned  than  others,  while  all  assign  the  same  reason  for  the  omission 
of  a  time-honored  practice— that  when  all  were  brave,  energetic  and  effi 
cient,  no  invidious  distinction  could  be  drawn.  It  is  left  for  me,  therefore, 
to  mention  only  those  whose  modesty  restrained  them  from  recounting 
their  own  valor  and  efficiency. 

I  would  particularly  mention  Col.  Take,  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  who  exhibited  rare  traits  of  military  excellence.  Cool,  ener 
getic,  fearless  and  decided,  with  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant-Col.  Frick 
and  Major  Martin,  he  has  won  an  enviable  name  for  his  regiment,  which 
will  always  be  sustained  while  the  command  rests  in  its  present  hands. 

To  Col.  Joseph  Howland  I  am  indebted  for  maintaining  the  extreme 
right  of  my  line  ;  for  nobly  leading  his  regiment  to  the  charge,  and  re 
taking  two  guns  from  the  enemy.  Whatever  of  noble,  moral,  physical, 
and  manly  courage  has  ever  been  given  by  God  to  man,  has  fallen  to  his  lot. 
Cheering  his  men  on  to  victory,  he  early  received  a  painful  wound,  but 
with  a  heroism  worthy  of  the  cause  he  has  sacrificed  so  much  to  maintain, 
he  kept  his  saddle  until  the  close  of  the  battle,  and  not  till  then  yielded 
to  the  painful  and  exhausted  condition  to  which  he  had  been  reduced. 

Col.  N.  I.  Jackson,  Fifth  Maine  Volunteers,  was  wounded  while  lead 
ing  his  regiment  to  the  charge  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line.  His  cool 
ness  and  clear,  decided  tones,  kept  his  regiment  like  one  man  moving 
steadily  to  the  front.  In  him  I  lose  an  able,  efficient  and  manly  officer. 

Lieut. -Col.  A.  I).  Adams,  commanding  the  Twenty-seventh  New  York 
Volunteers,  led  his  regiment  in  a  brave,  masterly  manner,  and  maintained 
one  of  the  most  important  positions  of  the  line,  with  a  full  and  clear  com 
prehensiveness  of  the  critical  position  the  whole  army  would  be  placed  in 
were  he  to  falter  or  give  way.  He  was  everywhere,  encouraging  and  di 
recting  his  men,  and  three  times  during  the  terrible  fight  we  were  main 
taining,  he  closed  up  and  dressed  his  thin  and  serried  ranks,  and  finally 
led  off  from  the  field  a  weakened  but  well-aligned  battalion.  It  is  enough 
to  say  that  under  his  command  the  Twenty-seventh  has  fully  sustained  its 
former  reputation.  He  was  nobly  assisted  by  Major  C.  C.  Gardiner,  who 
was  early  wounded  in  the  action  by  a  shell. 

Major  Seaver,  Sixteenth  New  York  Volunteers,  established  a  name  on 
this  occasion  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  He  was  fearless,  enthusi 
astic  and  efficient,  and  nobly  fills  the  place  made  vacant  by  Col.  Howland 
and  the  lamented  Lieutenant-Col.  Marsh. 

I  cannot  close  my  report  without  mentioning  Lieut.  Robert  P.  \Yilson, 
my  acting  assistant  adjutant-general,  and  Lieut.  M.  K.  Richards,  my  aid- 
de-camp.  Both  were  all  that  could  be  expected  of  educated,  brave  and 


66  RECORD   OF   27TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

dashing  young  gentlemen.     At  no  moment  of  the  action  were  they  screened^ 
from  the  leaden  hail  that  was  showered  upon  the  field.      Prompt  and  cor 
rect  in  promulgating  orders,   they  exposed   themselves  along   the  whole 
front,   and   were   unceasing  in   their  endeavors  to   aid   me  in  every  way. 
I  ask  for  them  your  consideration. 

I  herewith  annex  an  official  report  of  killed,  wounded  and   missing,  in 
my  brigade. 

Very  respectfully, 

JOSEPH    J.   BARTLETT, 

Colonel   27th   N.  Y.  Vols.,  Commanding  2(1    Brigade. 
Capt.  II.  C.  ROGKRS,   Act.  Assist.  Adjutant-General. 


Report  of  Lieutenant-Col.  Alexander  D.  Adams,  Twenty- 
seventh  N.  Y.  Infantry,  of  the  Battle  of  Games'  Mill. 

HDORS.  TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Yoi.s.,  ) 

IN  THK  FIELD,  July  6,  1862.  \ 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  a  report  of  the  action  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers,  on  Friday,  the  2yth  ultimo. 
Together  with  the  other  regiments  composing  the  brigade,  the  Twenty- 
seventh  moved  from  camp  at  an  early  hour  towards  Duane's  Bridge,  for 
the  purpose  of  supporting  the  divisions  of  Gen.  Porter,  then  being  en 
gaged  with  the  enemy.  About  4  o'clock  p.  M.  the  brigade  was  moved  rap 
idly  down  to  Woodbury's  (or  Alexander's)  Bridge,*  where  it  crossed,  and 
turning  to  the  left,  was  marched  toward  the  left  of  the  field  of  battle  on 
Games'  Hill.  This  regiment,  being  on  the  left,  was  first  overtaken  by  an 
aid-de-camp  of  Gen.  Porter,  who  desired  that  it  might  be  halted  while  he 
overtook  the  head  of  the  column,  as  Gen.  Porter  desired  that  Col.  Bart- 
lett's  brigade  should  go  to  the  assistance  of  the  right  wing.  The  delay, 
however,  was  momentary.  The  head  of  the  column  filing  almost  immedi 
ately  toward  the  right,  the  regiment  resumed  its  position  and  marched 
across  in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  mus 
ketry,  to  the  position  assigned.  Here  Col.  Bartlett,  commanding,  placed 


*It  will  be  noticed  that  there  is  a  discrepancy  in  the  reports  as  to  the 
name  of  the  bridge  crossed.  It  seems  that  when  the  order  came  in  the 
morning  for  the  division  to  cross  the  river,  the  line  started  over  Wood 
bury's  bridge,  but  was  recalled.  The  advance  to  the  battle  was  made 
over  Alexander's  bridge. 


REPORT   OF    LIEUTENANT-COL.   ADAMS.  67 

the  brigade,  formed  in  close  column  by  division,  in  a  ravine,  where  the 
men  were  completely  covered,  and  where  they  were  ordered  to  lie  down 
and  rest  until  called  into  action. 

In  about  thirty  minutes  the  regiments  were  called  up  in  succession, 
deployed  into  line  of  battle,  changed  front  forward,  and  thrown  across  a 
slightly  rising  level  field  toward  the  enemy,  under  a  severe  fire.  The  right 
of  the  Twenty-seventh  was  directed  upon  a  house  surrounded  by  outbuild 
ings  and  an  orchard,  from  which  the  enemy  were  firing.  When  within 
about  fifty  yards,  and  before  delivering  a  shot,  at  the  command,  "  For 
ward  to  the  charge  !"  the  line  advanced  at  double-quick,  crossed  the  fence 
in  rear  of  the  house,  and  came  up  to  the  front  fence,  where  it  encountered 
a  destructive  fire  at  close  range.  The  enemy  did  not  offer  any  resistance 
to  the  charge,  and  a  rapid,  steady  fire  was  opened  on  him,  evidently  doing 
great  execution.  At  this  point  two  officers  were  taken  prisoners  and  sent 
to  Col.  Bartlett. 

A  fresh  force  appearing  on  the  right,  the  fire  of  the  right  wing  was 
directed  obliquely  against  it.  Soon  after,  it  was  represented  that  we  were 
firing  on  our  own  men,  and  not  knowing  how  far  the  Sixteenth  New  York, 
whose  constant  volleys  were  heard  on  our  right,  might  have  advanced,  the 
order  was  given  to  cease  firing,  and  re-form  line  of  battle  on  the  fence  in 
rear  before  mentioned. 

While  this  was  being  coolly  executed,  the  smoke  lifted  partially,  dis 
closing  an  apparently  fresh  line  of  the  enemy  in  front.  The  Twenty- 
seventh  was  at  once  advanced  to  its  former  position,  and  again  opened  an 
effective  fire.  The  small  buildings  offered  a  partial  cover  to  a  few  of  the 
men,  who  were  enabled  to  fire  with  the  utmost  precision  at  a  rest.  The 
fire  of  the  enemy  slackened  about  dusk  for  a  little,  and  word  was  again 
brought  that  our  own  brigade  had  advanced  on  the  right  so  as  to  come 
within  range  of  the  fire  of  the  Twenty-seventh.  These  reports  coming,  as 
before,  from  officers,  induced  another  order  to  cease  firing,  which,  how 
ever,  was  speedily  revoked,  as  the  flashes  of  the  muskets  revealed  the 
position  of  the  enemy.  Again  the  line  opened,  though  the  rapidly  gather 
ing  gloom  rendered  the  aim  somewhat  uncertain.  The  cessation  of  the 
tiring  on  the  right  of  the  brigade  having  attracted  attention,  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  re-form  the  line— by  this  time  considerably  thinned — on  the 
fence  in  rear  of  the  house  (about  three  rods),  which  offered  the  nearest  ad 
vantageous  position,  owing  to  the  location  of  the  various  buildings.  The 
appearance  of  a  large  force  (apparently  a  brigade)  on  the  left,  marching  as 
if  to  flank  this  brigade,  who  responded  irregularly  to  the  challenge  of  the 
color-bearer  (and  who  were  afterwards  ascertained  to  be  the  enemy),  de- 


68       RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

cided  the  propriety  of  this  maneuver.  While  this  was  being  accomplished, 
Col.  Bartlett  in  person  gave  the  order  for  the  regiment  to  retire  in  order. 
On  reaching  the  ravine  from  which  the  brigade  had  advanced,  the  regiment 
found  itself  in  its  proper  position,  on  the  left  ot  the  column. 

Early  in  the  action  two  companies  or  more  of  the  Fifth  Maine  Volun 
teers,  with  Capt.  Edwards  at  the  head,  asked  permission  to  join  the  line 
of  the  Twenty-seventh,  stating  that  they  had  become  separated  from  their 
regiment,  their  colonel  and  lieutenant-colonel  having  fallen,  and  there 
being  no  mounted  officer  to  direct  them.  The  request  was  at  once  granted, 
and  they  continued  with  the  regiment,  doing  most  efficient  service  in  gal 
lant  style. 

The  conduct  of  officers  and  men  was  admirable,  the  former  seeming  to 
vie  with  each  other  in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  and  the  latter  wait 
ing  only  the  word  of  command,  which  insured  prompt  obedience.  The 
temporary  confusion  caused  here  and  there  during  the  engagement,  by  the 
nature  of  the  position,  the  falling  of  comrades,  and  more  particularly  by 
the  fire  of  our  own  battery  directly  in  our  rear,  the  shots  from  which  passed 
close  over,  and  in  three  instances  caused  trifling  injuries  to  the  men,  was 
promptly  corrected  by  the  united  efforts  of  the  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers  and  men. 

Instances  of  individual  heroism  are  not  wanting,  though  perhaps  not 
suitable  for  this  report. 

The  list  of  casualties,  heretofore  sent  to  headquarters,  comprises  12 
killed,  118  wounded,  and  32  missing. 

I   am,   very  respectfully, 

ALEX.    D.   ADAMS, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Commanding. 
Lieutenant  WIT. SON, 
Act.  Assist.  Adjutant-Gen.  2(1  Brigade,  Slocum's  Division. 

Swinton's  "  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  page  151,  says  : 

"And  thus  it  happened  that,  while  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chicka- 
hominv,  thirty  thousand  Union  troops  were  being  assailed  by  seventy 
thousand  Confederates,  twenty-five  thousand  Confederates  on  the  south 
side  held  in  check  sixty  thousand  Union  troops  !  When  therefore,  Lee, 
with  all  his  divisions  in  hand,  made  a  general  advance,  it  was  with  an 
overwhelming  weight  and  pressure.  The  right  held  its  ground  with  much 
stubbornness,  repulsing  every  attack.  That  wing  was  held  by  Sykes' 
division  of  regulars,  and  Griffin's  brigade,  and  was  subsequently  rein 
forced  by  Bartlett's  brigade,  of  Slocum's  division." 


CENERAI.  MAdRUDER'S  REPORT.          69 

Gen.  McClellan's  entire  army  was  now  south  of  the 
Chickahominy,  and  all  communication  had  been  cut  off 
with  White  House  Landing.  There  were  probably  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  ninety  thousand  men  for  duty  in  the  army 
after  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill  ;  and  with  that  body  of 
troops  united  south  of  the  river,  and  the  main  portion  of 
the  rebel  army  on  the  opposite  side,  with  the  bridges  de 
stroyed,  the  capture  of  Richmond  would  seem  to  have 
been  an  easy  task,  had  McClellan  seen  fit  to  advance  upon 
the  enemy  which  remained  in  the  works  before  Richmond. 

The  Confederate  Gen.  Magruder,  in  his  official  report  of 
his  part  in  the  "  Seven-Days  "  struggle,  says  : 

"  From  the  time  at  which  the  enemy  withdrew  his  forces  to  this  side  of 
the  Chickahominy,  and  destroyed  the  bridges,  to  the  moment  of  his  evac 
uation — that  is,  from  Friday  night  until  Sunday  morning — 1  considered 
the  situation  of  our  army  as  extremely  critical  and  perilous.  The  larger 
portion  of  it  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Chickahominy, 
and  there  were  but  twenty-five  thousand  men  between  his  (McClellan's) 
army  of  one  hundred  thousand  and  Richmond." 

While  we  were  in  camp  at  Mechanicsville,  in  the  early 
part  of  June,  some  of  the  scouts  of  McDowell's  army 
reached  our  lines  with  the  intelligence,  that  that  army  was 
within  a  few  days'  march  of  us,  and  would  soon  join  us. 
McDowell  and  Fremont  were  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
holding  Stonewall  Jackson  in  check,  and  expecting  to  come 
to  our  support,  and  help  take  Richmond.  But  on  the  25th 
it  was  learned,  through  a  deserter,  that  Jackson  had  eluded 
McDowell  and  Fremont,  and  with  fifteen  brigades,  under 
Whiting  and  Ewell,  was  on  his  way  to  join  Lee,  and  attack 
McClellan.  It  was  Jackson,  with  these  forces,  who  opened 
the  fight  on  our  right,  at  Games'  Mill. 

June  28th.  On  this  date  was  inaugurated  the  famous 
"  change  of  front,"  or  retreat  of  our  army  across  the  penin 
sula  to  the  James  River.  The  2/th  Regiment  was  called 
out  at  5  A.  M.,  in  heavy  marching  order,  and  moved  towards 
the  river  to  support  one  of  our  batteries.  About  9  o'clock 
we  were  shelled  out  by  the  Confederate  batteries  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  in  the  vicinity  of  Porter's  position 


/O  RECORD   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

of  yesterday.  We  were  ordered  to  fall  back  about  a  mile,' 
out  of  range,  where  we  remained  till  2  o'clock,  when  we 
moved  down  to  the  river,  in  the  woods,  and  went  on  picket 
duty  for  the  night. 

The  next  morning,  the  29th,  we  joined  in  the  general 
movement  to  the  rear,  and  when  we  reached  Savage's  Sta 
tion,  the  line  was  halted  and  line  of  battle  was  formed, 
facing  to  the  rear.  After  remaining  awhile,  we  moved  on, 
and  the  scenes  that  met  our  eyes  beggar  description.  It 
had  been  found  necessary  to  destroy  the  Commissary  stores 
and  Quartermasters'  supplies,  to  prevent  their  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  There  were  many  smoldering 
piles,  and  others  still  burning ;  and  there  were  deafening 
and  incessant  reports  from  the  explosion  of  shells  and  am 
munition  among  the  stores  that  were  being  destroyed. 
A  train  of  cars  loaded  with  ammunition,  was  set  on  fire, 
and  then  the  engine  was  started,  on  a  down  grade,  and  it 
made  a  rapid  run  for  the  river;  and,  the  bridge  being  de 
stroyed,  it  plunged  in,  amid  the  roar  of  bursting  shells  ! 

Here  we  found  the  hospitals  filled  with  the  wounded 
from  the  battle-field  of  Games'  Mill.  Scores  of  mangled 
men  lay  upon  the  ground  around  the  hospital  tents  :  their 
wearied,  haggard  and  smoke-begrimed  faces,  which  looked 
up  to  us,  appealed  not  less  strongly  than  their  words,  that 
they  should  not  be  left  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Capt.  Wells,  of  Co.  "  C,"  succeeded  in  getting  control  of 
three  ambulances,  and  loaded  into  them  all  the  wounded 
of  his  company,  and  some  other  wounded  men  of  the  regi 
ment,  and  these  were  taken  away  before  the  enemy  came  up. 

Certainly  these  scenes  were  more  trying  to  the  spirit  of 
the  soldier  than  the  combats  that  ensued.  The  narrow 
roads  were  choked  with  the  endless  trains  of  artillery,  army 
wagons,  and  ambulances  with  their  sad  burdens. 

Truly,  "  This  is  a  time  that  tries  men's  souls."  What  is 
to  become  of  the  wounded  who  cannot  bear  the  jolting  and 
swaying  of  the  ambulances  ?  Are  the  hospital  tents,  with 
their  faithful  nurses,  to  be  abandoned  to  the  enemy?  It 
may  be  that  the  safety  of  the  army  demands  it.  Various 


CAPT.  C.  A.  WELLS,  Co.  "C 


72  RECORD    OF    2/T1I    REGIMENT    N.  V.  VOLS. 

arc  the  reflections  of  men  of  diverse  temperaments.  Now 
we  hoar  from  a  dust-begrimed  veteran,  with  sleepless  eyes, 
an  optimist  to  the  core :  u  I  have  not  the  faintest  doubt  of 
the  final  triumph  of  our  cause,  and  I  have  the  firmest  faith 
in  our  commander-in-chief."  Then  one  officer  replies  to 
another,  who  asks:  "Where  are  we  going?"  "  To  the 
James,  to  take  transports  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The 
Southern  Confederacy  will  be  recognized  within  a  week." 

We  moved  on  from  Savage  Station,  across  White  Oak 
Swamp.  There  was  heavy  firing  in  our  rear,  by  the  troops 
in  and  around  Savage  Station.  After  crossing  the  swamp 
we  went  on  picket,  and  remained  all  night.  Early  Monday 
morning,  the  3Oth,  we  were  ordered  out  to  support  one  of 
our  batteries  on  the  right  of  Charles  City  road,  in  a  posi 
tion  to  prevent  the  enemy  crossing  or  repairing  the  bridges, 
which  had  now  been  destroyed.  A  terrific  cannonade  was 
kept  up  all  day,  and  we  were  under  fire  most  of  the  time, 
but  no  one  was  hurt  in  our  regiment,  except  the  adjutant, 
who  was  knocked  off  from  his  horse. 

We  held  our  ground  till  2  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  1st  of  July, 
when  we  moved  on  till  9  o'clock,  at  which  time  we  halted 
to  breakfast,  on  our  small  allowance  of  rations;  and  again, 
at  noon,  to  boil  coffee,  when  we  moved  on  to  Malvern  Hill, 
and  took  up  a  position  on  the  right  of  the  army.  Here  we 
went  into  the  woods  and  threw  up  small  breastworks,  as  we 
were  ordered  to  hold  this  position,  to  prevent  a  flank  move 
ment  of  the  enemy.  We  remained  there  till  2  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  2ci. 

Malvern  Hill  is  an  elevated  plateau,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  by  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  area  ;  generally  cleared  of 
timber,  and  converging  roads  running  over  it.  It  possesses 
great  natural  advantages.  In  front  are  defensible  ravines, 
and  the  ground,  sloping  towards  the  north  and  east,  affords 
the  artillery  a  clear  range.  Towards  the  northwest  the  pla 
teau  falls  abruptly  into  a  flat,  extending  to  the  James  River. 
The  dwelling  which  crowns  the  hill,  is  a  quaint  structure 
of  the  last  century,  built  of  red  brick,  and  stands  about  a 
thousand  yards  from  the  river, — commanding  a  beautiful 


BATTLK    OF    MAI.YMKN    II I  LI..  73 

view  of  the  river  for  many  miles.  It  was  immediately  oc 
cupied  as  headquarters  of  the  various  corps  and  divisions; 
and  the  signal  officers  took  possession  of  the  roof,  where 
their  parti-colored  flags  were  to  be  a  guide  for  the  artillery 
of  the  gunboats  stationed  in  Turkey  Bend. 

It  was  an  eventful  period  in  the  retreat  to  the  James. 
Lee  had  determined  to  bag  and  capture  the  National  army, 
or  drive  it  into  the  James.  The  right  of  our  line  was  made 
as  secure  as  possible  by  barricading  the  roads  and  slashing 
the  timber.  On  the  left,  it  was  feared  the  main  attack 
would  be  made.  Porter's  corps  held  the  left,  with  his  ar 
tillery  advantageously  posted  ;  while  the  reserve  artillery 
was  so  disposed  that  the  fire  of  sixty  guns  could 'be  concen 
trated  on  any  point  in  front  or  to  the  left.  Ten  siege  guns 
were  planted  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  all  the  batteries 
available  were  ready  to  deal  out  their  missiles  of  death. 
Between  9  and  10  A.  M.  the  enemy  commenced  feeling  of 
the  left  wing.  At  2  P.  M.  a  column  moved  to  the  right, 
within  the  skirt  of  wrood  in  front  of  Heint/leman,  but  be 
yond  artillery  range,  and  soon  disappeared.  About  3  P.  M. 
a  heavy  artillery  fire  opened  on  Kearney's  left.  The  in 
fantry  lay  upon  the  ground  until  the  enemy  was  within 
short  range — when  they  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  gave 
them  a  deadly  volley  !  which  forced  the  rebels  to  retreat 
in  disorder.  Again  all  was  quiet  till  6  o'clock,  when  brigade 
after  brigade,  having  formed  under  cover  of  the  woods  in 
front  of  Couch  and  Porter,  started  on  a  run  across  the  open 
plain,  and  attempted  to  charge  on  our  batteries ;  but  the 
fire  of  the  artillery  and  infantry  sent  them  reeling  back  to 
the  woods,  leaving  the  ground  covered  with  their  dead  and 
wounded.  Then  came  the  bayonet  charge  of  our  lines,  cap 
turing  many  prisoners  and  colors.  It  wrould  seem  that,  after 
these  repulses,  they  would  abandon  the  undertaking.  Not 
so  :  again,  at  7  P.  M.,  from  the  dark  pine  forest,  at  a  double- 
quick,  came  their  yelling  hordes  once  more,  determined,  if 
possible,  to  take  the  position  so  sternly  defended  ;  but  they 
were  compelled  to  retire  to  the  shelter  of  the  ravines,  woods 
and  swamps,  utterly  broken. 


74  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Shortly  after  9  o'clock  the  artillery  ceased  its  fire,  and 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  again  checked  the  advance 
of  the  Confederate  Army. 

We  had  plainly  won  a  battle,  and  still  occupied  a  position 
on  and  around  Malvern  Hill,  from  which,  it  would  seem, 
offensive  operations  could  have  been  directed  against  a 
beaten  enemy  ;  but  the  order  came  to  fall  back,  and  take 
position  at  Harrison's  Landing,  on  the  James  River. 

Wednesday,  July  2d,  at  2  A.  M.,  we  started  on  the  march, 
and,  though  it  was  short,  it  was  unexampled  for  mud,  slush, 
vexation  and  misery.  Rain  fell  incessantly.  The  roads 
were  mainly  used  by  the  artillery  and  wagons,  and  the  sol 
diers  were  compelled  to  take  their  way,  generally,  through 
the  fields  and  woods.  Mud  was  everywhere,  and  many  lost 
their  shoes,  and  even  stockings,  in  the  clayey,  dark-brown 
mixture.  Many  fell  out  by  the  way,  weakened,  as  they 
were,  by  a  week's  steady  marching  and  maneuvering,  and  a 
very  small  allowance  of  sleep  ;  while  hunger  added  its 
pangs,  to  help  fill  our  cup  of  misery.  And  yet  we  can  all 
recall  the  laughter  which  rang  out  sometimes  at  an  unlucky 
fall,  accompanied  by  a  curse  from  the  victim. 

So  we  plodded  along  till  after  noon,  when  we  went  into 
camp  in  an  immense  wheat  field — the  stalks  as  high  as  the 
waist ;  but  before  night  not  a  green  spear  or  root  was  dis 
cernible,  as  the  whole  field  had  become  an  area  of  gray 
paste,  by  the  ceaseless  tramp  of  soldiers  and  horses.  We 
drew  a  scanty  supply  of  rations,  a  half-gill  of  whiskey,  and 
then  lay  down  and  slept  soundly  till  the  next  morning. 

The  familiar  sound  of  cannonading  awoke  every  one  early 
on  the  3d,  and  we  were  called  out  in  heavy  marching  order. 
We  stood  along  the  road  all  day,  as  the  mud  was  so  deep 
that  we  could  not  find  a  place  to  sit  down.  We  moved 
about  a  mile,  and  went  into  camp,  in  a  nice  field,  drew  a 
full  supply  of  rations,  and  felt  quite  recruited. 

July  4th  we  moved  our  camp  again,  about  a  mile,  cleared 
off  the  ground,  pitched  our  tents  in  good  order,  and  found 
ourselves  in  a  pleasant  camp,  near  a  supply  of  good  water. 
We  then  turned  in  to  help  celebrate  the  Natal  day.  The 


LOSSES    IN   THE    SEVEN    DAYS'    FIGHT.  75 

gunboats  and  batteries  fired  a  National  salute,  just  to  let 
the  enemy  know  that  the  "  Yankees"  were  still  alive. 

The  week  of  battle  was  over;  and,  according  to  McClel- 
lan's  reports,  "  The  total  loss  of  our  army,  in  the  engage 
ments  from  the  26th  of  June  to  the  1st  of  July,  inclusive, 
was  15,849;"  that  of  the  Confederate  army,  19,749-  Tne 
Confederate  losses,  in  killed  and  wounded  alone,  were  greater 
than  the  total  losses  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.  McClellan  says  :  "  No  praise  can  be 
too  great  for  officers  and  men  who  passed  through  these 
seven  days  of  battle;  enduring  fatigue  without  a  murmur; 
successfully  meeting  and  repelling  every  attack  made  upon 
them  ;  always  in  the  right  place  at  the  right  time  ;  and 
emerging  from  the  fiery  orcleal,  a  compact  army  of  vet 
erans,  equal  to  any  task  that  brave  and  disciplined  men 
can  be  called  upon  to  undertake  !' 


Report  of  Brigadier-Gen.  Wm.  B.  Franklin,  commanding  Sixth  Corps, 

of  Operations  June  27-July  2,  including  the  Actions  at  White 

Oak  Swamp  Bridge,  and  the  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill. 

llKADorARTF.kS    SlXTH    PllOV.    AkMYCoRl'S,  / 

CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  LANDING,  Va.,  July  17,  1862.  \ 

GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  action 
of  the  corps  under  my  command,  between  June  27th  last  and  the  time  of 
its  arrival  at  this  place  : 

On  June  26th  my  command  was  stationed  as  follows,  viz.:  Slocum's 
division  was  in  reserve,  encamped  on  the  Courtney  Clearing. 
On  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  June  I  was  ordered  to  send  Gen.  Slocum's 
division  to  the  east  side  of  the  Chickahominy,  to  report  to  Gen.  F.  J.  Porter. 
After  the  division  was  put  in  motion,  and  had  partly  crossed,  the  order  was 
countermanded,  and  the  division  returned  to  camp.  The  order  was  reit 
erated  about  2  o'clock,  and  the  division  crossed  the  river  by  Alexander's 
Bridge,  and  very  soon  became  severely  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  June,  finding  the  enemy  in  great  force 


76       RECORD  OF  2?TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

at  Garnett's,  a  new  battery  in  the  valley  of  the  river,  and  a  battery  of  heavy 
guns  at  Games'  Hill,  I  withdrew  all  the  forces  to  the  edge  of  the  wood  in 
closing  Golding's  farm  :  Slocum's  division  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and 
Smith's  on  the  left,  connecting  with  Gen.  Simmer's  line.  We  were  se 
verely  shelled  from  all  of  their  batteries,  just  before  the  movement  com 
menced,  and  while  it  was  going  on.  Just  after  the  movement  was  com 
pleted,  two  Georgia  regiments  made  an  attack  upon  the  pickets.  They 
were  handsomely  repulsed,  with  great  loss,  with  the  help  of  Capt.  Mott's 
battery.  A  colonel,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  about  twenty  privates  were 
taken  by  our  troops.  In  the  morning  of  the  2gth  of  June,  I  was  ordered 
by  the  commanding  general  to  move  my  command  as  follows,  viz.:  Slo 
cum's  division  to  Savage  Station,  in  reserve.  *  *  *  Gen.  Slocum 
arrived  at  Savage  Station  at  an  early  hour,  and  was  directed  by  the  com 
manding  general  to  cross  the  White  Oak  Swamp. 

During  the  morning  of  June  3oth  I  posted  Gen.  Slocum's  division  on  the 
right  of  the  Charles  City  road,  by  order  of  the  commanding  general. 

About  noon  I  was  directed  to  assume  command  at  the  position  guard 
ing  the  crossing  of  the  swamp,  and  repaired  there  at  once.  I  found  that 
a  terrific  cannonade  had  been  opened  by  the  enemy  upon  the  divisions 
stationed  there.  * 

The  enemy  kept  up  the  firing  during  the  whole  day,  and  crossed  some 
infantry  below  our  position,  but  he  made  no  very  serious  attempt  to  cross 
during  the  day,  and  contented  himself  with  the  cannonading  and  the  firing 
of  his  sharpshooters. 

Nightfall  having  arrived,  and  the  wagons  having  all  disappeared,  I  took 
the  responsibility  of  moving  my  command  to  the  James  River,  by  a  road 
to  the  left,  which  had  not  been  much  used,  and  arrived  at  headquarters 
safely,  about  daylight.  * 

On  July  ist,  the  two  divisions  of  my  command  were  posted  toward  the 
right  of  the  position  near  Turkey  Creek.  They  held  this  position  during 
the  day  and  part  of  the  night ;  and,  in  compliance  with  orders  from  the 
commanding  general,  moved  to  Harrison's  Bar. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  the  officers  and  men  of  my  com 
mand,  for  the  fortitude  and  courage  shown  by  them  in  the  fatiguing  and 
distressing  marches  made  in  the  interval  between  June  27th  and  July  2cl. 

In  Gen.  Smith's  division  every  march  was  made  at  night.  In  Gen.  Slo 
cum's  it  was  nearly  as  severe.  The  nervous  excitement  of  being  under  fire 
every  day  for  nearly  a  week — often  without  the  opportunity  of  returning 
the  fire — has  caused  a  prostration  from  which,  in  many  cases,  the  men 
have  not  yet  recovered. 


FRANKLIN'S  AND  SLOCUM'S  REPORTS.  77 

1   think  that  all  of  the  general  officers  of  the  two  divisions  deserve  to 
be  made  major-generals,  and  I  hope  that  they  will  be  so  made. 

Col.  Pratt,   Col.  Bartlett  and  Col.  Matheson  deserve  to  be  made  briga 
dier-generals.         ******** 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  General, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.    B.    FRANKLIN. 


Report  of  Brigadier-General  H.  W.  Slocum. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION,  SIXTH  PROV.  ARMY  CORPS, 
CAMP  NEAR  HARRISON'S  BANDING,  Va.,  July  10,  1862. 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  move 
ments  of  the  division  under  my  command,  from  the  close  of  the  battle  of 
Games'  Mill,  on  the  2yth  ult.,  until  its  arrival  at  its  present  position. 

The  division  returned  from  the  battle-field  at  Games'  Hill  at  about 
IIP.  M.,  leaving  on  the  field,  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  one-half  of 
its  regimental  commanders,  about  one-fourth  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  soldiers,  who  had  so  recently  crossed  the  river  to  the  support 
of  Gen.  Porter.  The  men,  weary  with  the  labors  and  excitement  of  the 
day,  were  allowed  but  little  rest.  Early  the  following  morning  their  camp 
at  Courtney's  was  changed  to  a  position  where  they  could  be  better  shel 
tered  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries  planted  at  Garnett's  and 
Games'  Hill. 

The  same  evening,  the  28th,  orders  were  received  by  me  to  move  the 
division  to  Savage  Station,  there  to  await  further  orders.  The  movement 
commenced  at  n  P.  M.,  but  was  delayed  at  Trent's  Hill,  by  the  passage  of 
other  troops,  so  that  the  division  did  not  arrive  at  Savage's  until  about 
5  A.  M.  on  Sunday,  the  29th.  At  this  place  I  received  orders  from  Gen. 
McClellan,  in  person,  to  move  the  division  across  White  Oak  Swamp. 
We  crossed  at  2  P.  M.,  and  at  5  P.  M.  I  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  a  point 
on  the  Long  Bridge  road,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  beyond  the  swamp. 

*  *  *  The  division  reached  this  point  at  7  P.  M.,  and  fully 

one-half  of  the  effective  force  was  immediately  sent  out  on  picket  duty  for 
the  night. 

On  the  following  morning  I  took  position  on  the  Charles  City  road, 
about  one  mile  from  its  juncture  with  the  Long  Bridge  road,  and  about  an 


78  RECORD    OF   27TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

equal  distance  from  Brackett's  Ford.  In  anticipation  of  an  attack  by  a 
force  said  to  be  approaching  on  the  Charles  City  road,  this  road  was 
blockaded  as  thoroughly  as  possible.  Soon  after  our  arrival  our  line  of 
battle  was  established,  and  Upton's  Battery  (D),  Second  Artillery,  and 
Porter's  and  Hexamer's  Volunteer  Batteries  placed  in  position.  The  in 
fantry  necessary  to  support  the  artillery  was  posted  on  the  flanks  of  the 
batteries,  and  the  balance  so  disposed  as  to  be  entirely  protected  from  the 
fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery.  The  bridge  near  Brackett's  Ford  was  de 
stroyed  by  our  troops  immediately  after  our  arrival,  and  an  infantry  force, 
with  one  12-pound  howitzer  of  Hexamer's  battery,  placed  to  defend  the 
position.  At  10  o'clock  the  enemy  appeared  at  this  point,  and  attempted  a 
reconstruction  of  the  bridge,  but  were  repulsed.  At  n  A.  M.  our  pickets 
on  the  Charles  City  road  were  driven  in,  and  the  enemy  immediately  ap 
peared  in  force  in  a  large  open  field  in  our  front, — their  position  being 
partially  screened  from  our  view  by  a  narrow  belt  of  woodland.  They 
opened  fire  from  two  batteries,  which  was  at  once  replied  to  by  Porter's 
and  Upton's  batteries,  and  two  pieces  of  Hexamer's  battery.  * 

The  artillery  fire  was  continued  by  the  enemy  in  our  front  until  nearly 
dark,  but  our  troops  were  so  well  covered  that  we  suffered  but  few  casu 
alties,  our  total  loss  not  exceeding  twenty-five  in  killed  and  wounded. 

At  7  o'clock  it  was  reported  to  me  that  the  left  of  our  line,  held  by 
Gen.  Heintzelman,  was  severely  pressed  ;  and  the  fire  of  the  enemy  in  our 
front  having  ceased,  I  ordered  the  brigade  of  Col.  Bartlett  to  move  to  the 
front  and  gain  possession,  if  possible,  of  the  field  on  which  the  enemy 
first  appeared.  As  soon  as  his  brigade  moved  down  the  road  leading  to 
this  position,  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry  appeared,  drawn  up 
in  line  a  short  distance  beyond  a  creek  separating  our  position  from  that 
held  by  the  enemy.  Upton's  battery  of  light  12-pounders  was  at  once 
moved  to  the  front,  and  a  very  effective  fire  of  canister  opened  upon  them, 
which  caused  their  well  formed  lines  to  disappear. 

The  fire  on  our  left  was  continued  until  a  late  hour  in  the  evening,  and 
at  times  the  shells,  and  even  musket  balls  from  the  enemy,  fell  in  the  road 
directly  in  rear  of  our  position. 

At  9  P.  M.,  having  expended  nearly  all  our  ammunition,  and  being  des 
titute  of  rations,  I  sent  a  staff  officer  to  general  headquarters  to  report  our 
condition.  At  u  P.  M.,  having  obtained  permission  of  Gen.  Heintzelman, 
I  moved  the  division  to  Malvern  Hill.  We  arrived  at  this  point  at  day 
light  ;  and  at  9  A.  M.,  the  2d  instant,  moved  to  a  position  on  the  right  of 
our  line.  From  the  time  of  our  arrival,  until  the  commencement  of  the 
engagement  on  this  day,  the  men  were  employed  in  constructing  abatis, 


SI.OCUM'S    REPORT,  79 

and   otherwise  strengthening  our  position.      During  the  engagement   on 
our  left,  the  division  was  under  arms. 

At  ii  P.  M.,  orders  were  received  to  move  to  our  present  position, 
where  we  arrived  at  daylight  on  the  3d  inst.  During  this  entire  week  the 
troops  inert  allowed  scarcely  an  hour  of  undisturbed  rest,  either  by  night  or  day; 
Vet  the  division  marched  into  its  present  camp  in  good  order,  having  very  few 
stragglers,  and  without  the  loss  of  any  arms,  ammunition,  clothing  or  wagons; 
and  with  a  cheerfulness  prevailing  among  the  soldiers,  as  well  as  officers,  which 
to  me  was  as  astonishing  as  it  was  gratifying. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  the  brigade  commanders.  Gens.  Newton  and 
Taylor,  and  Col.  Bartlett,  for  their  vigilance  and  untiring  efforts  on  the 
field,  as  well  as  on  our  night  marches. 

They  were  constantly  with  their  commands,  cheering  them  by  noble" 
example,  as  well  as  words. 

To  the  members  of  my  staff,  Capt.  Rogers,  Assistant  Adjutant-General, 
*  *        and  Surgeon  Burr,  I  am  greatly  indebted. 

They  were  with  me  during  the  entire  week,  and  proved  very  efficient  in 
the  discharge  of  their  respective  duties. 

I   am,   sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.   W.    SLOCUM. 


80       RECORD  OF  2;TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

A  Soldier's  Letter,  and  a  Woman's  Answer. 


HOSPITAL,   June,   1862. 


I  write  with  a  great  deal  of  pain,  dear  girl, 

I've  not  been  able  before,  since  the  fight  ; 
And  my  brain  is  still  so  much  in  a  whirl, 

That  I  can  tell  you  but  little  to-night. 
I'm  wounded — don't  start ! — 'tis  not  very  bad, 

Or,  at  least,  it  might  be  worse  ;  so  I  said, 
When  I  thought  of  you,    "  I'm  sure  she'll  be  glad 

To  know  that  I'm  only  wounded — not  dead  !" 

I've  lost  my  left  arm  !  there,  now  you  know  all  ! 

A  minie  ball  shattered  it,  and   I  fell  ! 
The  last  that  I  heard  was  our  Captain's  call, 

Until — the  rest  is  too  painful  to  tell  ! 
I've  had  throughout,  the  most  excellent  care, 

And  am  doing  finely,  the  Surgeon  says  ; 
So  well,  indeed,  that  the  prospect  is  fair 

For  a  homeward  trip,  before  many  days. 

But  I've  something  else,  dear  Mary,  to  say — 

And  I'd  say  it  if  it  cost  me  my  life — 
I've  thought  of  it  well — there's  no  other  way  ! 

You're  released  from  your  promise  to  be  my  wife 
You'll  think  me  foolish  at  first  :  then  you'll  think 

Of  the  loose,  armless  coat-sleeve  at  my  side  ; 
And  your  proud  and  sensitive  heart  will  shrink 

From  the  thought  of  being  a  cripple's  bride. 

'Tis  a  bitter  struggle  to  give  you  up, — 

For  I've  loved  you  more  than  ever  of  late  ! 
But  down  to  its  dregs  I've  drained  the  cup, 

And  am  calm,  though  my  heart  is  desolate. 
I'm  coming  home,  and,  of  course,  we  must  meet  ;  . 

My  darling,  this  once,  one  boon  I  implore  : 
Let  us  still  be  friends — for  that  will  be  sweet, 

Since  now,  alas  !  we  can  be  nothing  more. 


A   GENUINE   SWEETHEART.  8t 


The  Answer. 


SWEET  HOME,  July,  1862. 

MY  ROBERT  !  how  brave  and  noble  you  are  ! 

Too  brave  and  too  noble,  I  know,  for  me  ; 
But  you've  too  little  faith  in  me  by  far, 

If  you  believe  I  want  to  be  free.  • 
I'm  not  released  from  my  promise — no,  no  ! 

'Twas  never  so  sacred  to  me  before  ; 
If  you  could  but  hear  how  I've  longed  to  go, 

And  watch  by  your  side,  you'd  doubt  me  no  more. 

I  read  your  name  in  the  terrible  list ! 

But  the  tears  froze  back  that  sprang  to  my  eyes, 
And  a  fearful  pain,  that  I  could  not  resist, 

Crushed  my  heart  till  I  only  longed  to  die. 
The  blessed  tears,  by  and  by,  came  again, 

And   I  felt,  as  you  in  your  letter  said, 
A  feeling  of  gladness,  'mid  all  my  pain, 

That  ROBERT  was  only  wounded — not  dead  ! 

Oh,  darling  !  to  think  you  have  suffered  so, 

And  I    all  these  long,  weary  miles  away  ; 
You've  needed  me  very  often,  I  know  ; 

While  I  could  do  nothing  but  hope  and  pray. 
But  hardest  of  all  is  the  bitter  thought, 

That  you  have  been  suffering  so  much  for  me  ; 
Poor  ROBERT  !  your  manly  letter  has  brought 

A   strange  mixture  of  joy  and  misery. 

But  you  are  coming  home  to  my  arms  and  heart  : 

You're  right — I  AM  proud  and  sensitive,  too  ! 
But  I  am  only  so  when  we  are  apart, 

And  now  I  shall  only  be  proud  of  you  ! 
You're  coming  home  to  be  happy  and  rest, 

And  I  wait  the  moment  of  blissful  calm, 
When  I  shall  be  held  to  a  soldier's  breast, 

By  a  Patriot  Hero's  one  strong  arm  ! 


82  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

July  5th,  we  had  to  go  out  on  picket  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  camp.  Three  companies  were  on  the  outposts,  and 
the  other  seven  in  reserve.  The  men  in  reserve  had  a  nice 
time,  for  blackberries  were  plentiful,  and  were  a  fine  relish 
for  the  soldiers.  We  returned  from  picket  at  10  A.  M.,  and  we 
well  remember  it  as  the  hottest  day  we  had  ever  experienced. 
These  sandy  ridges  along  the  James  are  said  to  be  the  hot 
test  places  in  all  Virginia.  In  the  afternoon  we  left  our 
guns,  and  took  up  the  spades,  picks  and  shovels,  and  com 
menced  our  share  of  the  work  of  throwing  up  entrench 
ments  in  front  of  our  lines.  This  work  resulted  in  a  system 
of  ponderous  barriers,  from  the  old  church  on  Westovcr 
Heights,  on  the  bank  of  Herring  Run,  along  the  position 
of  our  lines,  to  the  James.  It  was  dig,  dig,  dig,  lift  and 
throw,  until  the  bank  reached  the  height  of  the  embrasures 
and  platforms  for  the  field  pieces. 

July  8th  we  turned  out  to  welcome  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  who  rode,  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  and 
his  staff,  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  vast  camp, 
amid  the  plaudits  of  the  soldiers.  We  seem  yet  to  see  that 
rugged  form  towering  above  general  and  staff,  and  those 
massive,  grand  features  of  our  War  President,  ABRAHAM 
LINCOLN. 

From  this  time  till  the  i/th  the  regiment  was  kept  busy 
at  picket  duty  and  working  on  the  breastworks,  when,  on 
this  date,  we  moved  camp  about  two  miles,  and  put  up  our 
tents  near  the  rifle-pits.  Here  we  remained  a  few  days,  and 
busied  ourselves  fixing  up  camp,  digging  a  well  from  which 
to  supply  the  camp  with  water,  working  on  the  forts,  and 
the  usual  camp  duties.  First,  at  5  A.  M.,  the  bugle  notes 
are  heard  calling  us  out  of  our  nests  for  roll-call.  It  again 
sounds  for  Surgeon's  call ;  then  for  breakfast.  At  noon  it 
sounds  for  dinner,  and  at  4  p.  M.  to  fall  in  for  work  on  the 
fort.  Sometimes  it  sounds  at  1 1  A.  M.  for  inspection,  and 
again  at  I  for  police  duty,— for  the  camp  is  kept  scrupu 
lously  clean. 

The  20th  finds  us  again  on  picket,  and  where  vve  find 
plenty  of  blackberries, — and  the  men  are  happy.  The  2ist 


MUSTER   OUT   OF   REGIMENTAL   BANDS*  83 

we  drew  new  clothing.  From  the  26th  to  28th  the  weather 
was  terribly  hot  and  sultry.  All  quiet  in  camp  ;  no  duty 
except  picketing,  as  we  are  strongly  intrenched  for  many 
miles.  If  Lee  attempts  to  make  an  attack  on  us  here,  he 
will  become  an  "  angel,"  and  with  the  angels  stand  ;  but  we 
do  not  think  he  will  be  so  unwise  as  to  trap  himself. 

Each  man  received  sixty  rounds  of  cartridges  on  the 
29th,  as  there  were  indications  of  an  attack.  No  enemy 
was  in  sight,  however,  but  we  were  kept  on  the  alert  till 
the  evening  of  the  3 1st,  when  the  enemy,  having  placed  a 
battery  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  James  River,  shelled  our 
camps.  We  could  follow  the  course  of  the  shells,  as  the 
burning  fuse  was  discernible  in  the  darkness.  The  gun 
boats  soon  wheeled  into  line,  and  silenced  the  hostile  guns. 
About  twenty  Union  soldiers  were  killed,  and  forty  wounded. 
A  large  number  of  horses  were  also  killed. 

On  the  3d  of  August  the  paymaster  arrived,  and  the  men 
were  paid  off.  There  was  but  little  duty  for  the  next  week 
or  more,  and  the  men  amused  themselves  with  the  games 
incident  to  pay-day.  Weather  exceedingly  hot,  and  many 
horses  dying  from  the  effects  of  the  heat. 

August  8th,  in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  Congress,  and  a 
general  order  from  headquarters,  the  musicians  of  the  regi 
mental  bands  assembled  at  headquarters,  and  were  mustered 
out  of  service.  One  band  only  is  hereafter  to  be  allowed 
to  a  brigade.  This  order  causes  a  great  deal  of  dissatisfac 
tion  among  the  troops. 

August  loth  we  sent  away  our  knapsacks  and  baggage 
on  the  transports,  as  orders  had  been  given  to  move.  Did 
not  get  off,  however,  till  the  Hth,  when  the  boys  bid  good- 
by  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and  marched  about  three  miles, 
and  were  again  stationed  for  picket  duty,  where  we  remained 
till  4  P.  M.  of  the  1 5th  ;  then  marched  to  Charles  City  Court 
House. 

At  sunrise  on  the  i6th  we  started  on  a  twenty-mile  march. 
The  day  was  very  hot,  and  the  roads  dusty.  A  portion  of 
the  country  through  which  we  passed  was  very  fine,  with 
large  mansions,  surrounded  by  extensive  plantations. 


84  RECORD    OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

About  sundown  we  crossed  the  Chickahominy,  near  where 
it  widens  out  into  a  bay,  at  its  junction  with  the  James. 
The  pontoon  bridge  on  which  we  crossed  was  2200  feet 
long,  and  said  to  be  the  longest  and  best  ever  constructed. 
The  train  of  artillery  moved  in  the  centre,  and  two  ranks 
of  infantry  marched  on  each  side.  We  went  into  camp 
about  a  mile  from  the  river.  While  crossing,  a  gunboat 
stood  guard  over  the  moving  column.  The  next  day  made 
a  very  rapid  inarch,  at  which  the  men  grumbled  a  good  deal, 
as  melons  and  fruit  were  quite  plentiful  along  the  route  ; 
but  there  was  no  time  to  indulge,  nor  even  to  sample  them. 
During  the  day  we  passed  the  house  which  was  the  birth 
place  of  ex-President  Tyler.  It  was  under  guard,  to  pre 
vent  defacement  and  pillage.  At  about  3  P.  M.  we  passed 
through  Williamsburg,  a  quaint,  moss-covered  town, — once 
the  centre  of  the  aristocracy  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Here 
we  saw  the  College  of  William  and  Mary,  founded  during 
the  last  century  ;  and  had  a  good  view  of  the  fortification 
that,  in  May,  cost  us  so  much  to  capture.  Five  miles  from 
here  we  went  into  camp,  having  marched  twenty-five  miles. 
Only  a  few  of  the  regiment  stacked  arms,  as  the  day  had 
been  unusually  hot,  and  the  march  so  rapid  that  many  had 
fallen  out  by  the  way,  and  did  not  reach  camp  till  after  dark. 
Two  months  before,  a  conquering  and  exultant  army  had 
passed  through  the  historic  town  of  Williamsburg ;  but 
now  we  turn  back  from  the  city  we  had  confidently  ex 
pected  to  hold.  The  next  day  we  made  another  march  of 
fifteen  miles,  and  camped  within  the  fortifications  of  York- 
town. 

It  seems  that  McClellan  wanted  to  make  a  stand  at  Wil 
liamsburg,  and  there  recruit  his  forces,  and  advance  again 
on  the  enemy.  This  plan  was  not  favored  by  the  Wash 
ington  authorities,  and,  by  their  orders,  on  down  the  penin 
sula  was  heard  the  tread  of  the  receding  columns. 

Reveille  at  daylight  on  the  iQth,  and  for  the  first  eight 
miles  of  our  march  we  passed  line  after  line  of  the  enemy's 
works,  which  they  evacuated  at  the  time  of  our  advance  up 
the  peninsula.  Our  men  realized,  for  the  first  time,  the 


LEAVING  THE    PENINSULA.  85 

great  strength  of  this  fortified  position,  from  which,  the 
engineers  said,  the  enemy  could  never  have  been  driven, 
Fort  Magruder  being  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  formi 
dable  works  known  in  modern  times. 

At  4  A.  M.,  August  2oth,  we  took  up  the  line  of  march 
from  Yorktown,  and  started  for  Newport  News,  and  camped 
three  miles  below  Warwick  C.  H.  In  this  camp  and  along 
the  route,  we  feasted  on  green  corn,  apples,  plums  and 
peaches. 

At  7  A.  M.,  the  2  ist,  we  started  on  our  march,  and  moved 
nine  miles,  to  Newport  News,  three  companies — B,  F,  and 
G — acting  as  rear-guard  to  pick  up  stragglers ;  and  a  hard 
day's  work  they  had.  From  our  position  here  we  can  see 
the  masts  of  the  frigate  Cumberland,  which  was  sunk  by 
the  Confederate  ram,  Merrimac. 

The  next  day,  the  22d(?),  we  embarked  on  the  steamer  John 
Brooks,  and  started  down  the  bay.  Next  morning  we  found 
ourselves  anchored  near  Fortress  Monroe.  The  movement 
of  this  large  fleet  down  the  bay  at  night,  each  vessel  carry 
ing  its  many-colored  signal  lights,  made  a  scene  of  unusual 
grandeur. 

Our  next  move  was  up  the  Potomac,  to  Aquia  Creek, 
where  we  made  a  short  stay,  and  then  moved  on  to  Alex 
andria,  and  about  noon  of  the  24th(?)  disembarked  and  went 
into  camp  near  Fort  Ellsworth.  August  2/th  we  pushed 
out  on  picket  duty  near  Avondale ;  and,  August  28th, 
marched  to  Fairfax,  and  then  on  to  Centreville. 

We  did  not  get  into  the  second  Bull  Run  fight  in  time  to 
do  any  good,  only  to  help  check  the  retreat ;  and,  after  that 
battle,  we  marched  back  to  Alexandria;  and,  September  ist, 
went  into  camp  at  Fort  Lyon. 


86  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

The'  following  letter  from  Dr.  George  Burr,  Medical  Di 
rector  of  our  Division,  to  his  wife,  gives  quite  fully  the  part 
taken  by  our  division  in  the  second  Bull  Run  campaign  : 

("AMP  NEAR  ALEXANDRIA,  Va.,  September  4,   1862. 

MY  DEAR  WIFE  : — For  the  fourth  time  we  are  back.  Alexandria  seems 
to  be  a  hard  place  to  keep  away  from.  As  I  wrote  you  what  we  were  about 
to  do,  we  marched  towards  Manassas  on  Friday  last.  The  division  en 
camped  for  the  night  about  seven  miles  out,  and  next  morning  pushed  on. 
A  heavy  cannonading  had  commenced,  indicating  that  a  severe  battle  was 
in  progress.  I  did  not  leave  with  the  division.  I  had  been  confined  to 
my  bed  the  day  before,  and  though  feeling  much  better  in  the  morning,  1 
did  not  feel  able  to  march,  and  so  remained  behind.  Staid  that  night  at 
Alexandria,  with  Dr.  Griffin,  of  Great  Bend,  who  is  there  employed  as 
physician  for  the  railroad  men.  Saturday  morning  I  felt  much  better, 
though  somewhat  weak.  The  sound  of  the  cannonading,  however,  with 
the  division  hastening  towards  it,  made  it  impossible  for  me  to  remain 
behind,  for  on  no  account  would  I  have  it  go  into  battle  without  my  going 
with  it.  So  I  started  on  foot,  and  walked  seven  miles  ;  got  into  a  sutler's 
wagon  and  rode  seven  miles  further,  to  Fairfax  Court  House  ;  there  found 
that  Gen.  Slocum  was  pushing  on  as  rapidly  as  possible  ;  so  I  started  to 
wards  Centreville,  again  on  foot  ;  walked  about  six  miles,  when  I  over 
look  Gen.  Slocum.  The  battle  was  still  going  on,  and  the  division  pushed 
forward,  past  Centreville,  on  towards  Bull  Run.  We  arrived  within  a 
mile  of  the  battle-field  about  sundown,  where  the  division  was  halted. 
It  soon  became  evident  that  our  men  were  falling  back.  First,  a  few 
stragglers  came  along  ;  then  their  numbers  increased,  until  the  road  was 
completely  filled  with  a  disorganized  mass  of  men,  teams  and  ambulances. 
There  was  nothing  now  to  be  done  but  to  save  a  complete  rout  of  the  army, 
and  this  duty  devolved  upon  our  division.  It  was  kept  in  perfect  order, 
and  the  regiments  were  placed  in  good  positions  for  defense,  and  our  ar 
tillery  so  posted  as  to  command  every  point  from  whence  the  enemy  could 
make  a  charge. 

Col.  Bartlett  had  the  post  of  danger,  as  well  as  of  honor,  for  he  re 
mained  all  night  in  that  position,  until  the  entire  army  had  fallen  back, 
and  was  re-formed  at  Centreville. 

When  I  was  told  we  were  to  go  back  to  Centreville,  I  retraced  my  steps, 
for  I  was  still  on  foot, — weary  enough,  I  assure  you,  and  my  feet  so  blis 
tered  that  every  step  caused  me  much  pain.  On  reaching  Centreville,  long 
after  dark,  I  could  hear  only  inquiries,  "Are  there  no  surgeons?"  "  No 


SURGEON   r.URR'S    LETTER.  87 

hospitals?"  I  at  length  got  a  piece  of  candle,  and  opened  the  old  stone 
church,  that  was  used  at  the  other  Bull  Run  battle,  and  the  poor  wounded 
fellows  began  to  turn  in  at  once.  The  church  was  soon  filled  with  wounded 
men — some  able  to  walk  ;  others  brought  by  their  comrades.  I  attended 
to  them  all  night,  without  ever  sitting  down,  and  all  the  next  day  likewise. 
In  the  course  of  the  night  other  surgeons  came  in,  and  also  the  next  day. 
The  wounded  also  kept  coming  in,  especially  after  daylight  Sunday  morn 
ing.  We,  however,  attended  to  them  all,  and  by  night,  on  Sunday,  put 
them  on  board  of  ambulances,  to  be  taken  to  hospitals.  I  performed  one 
amputation  of  the  arm,  and  two  or  three  fingers  ;  and  cut  out  perhaps  a 
f>cck  of  balls  from  different  parts.  I  assure  you  I  was  very  willing  to  go 
to  bed  at  night.  I  had  eaten  but  very  little  for  several  days  ;  Saturday 
morning,  at  Alexandria,  I  ate  only  a  small  piece  of  dry  toast,  and  drank 
freely  of  tea.  The  sutler's  wagon  had  ginger  cakes,  cheese  and  dried  her 
rings  :  of  these  I  ate  some.  Had  nothing  else  until  next  day  along  to 
wards  noon.  The  Sanitary  Commission  men  brought  some  bread,  cold 
meat,  and  some  kind  of  cordial,  all  of  which  answered  a  good  purpose. 
1  am  somewhat  surprised  at  my  own  endurance,  for,  after  resting  one 
night,  I  was  as  bright,  and  felt  as  well  as  ever  the  next  day,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  my  sore  feet. 

Monday  night  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  to  Fairfax.  So,  at  evening, 
we  packed  up,  and  tins  time  I  had  a  horse.  We  commenced  the  march 
about  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  but  we  were  soon  blocked  by  teams,  and 
the  greatest  confusion  that  I  ever  saw  was  prevailing.  It  was  rainy,  also, 
and  everything  was  gloomy  enough.  The  enemy,  we  knew,  were  on  our 
left  flank,  and  really  we  were  at  their  mercy,  had  they  only  known  our 
situation.  Despairing  of  getting  through  under  several  hours,  Gen.  Slo- 
cum  said  we  would  try  and  get  some  rest.  So  we  built  a  fire  by  the  side 
of  the  road,  spread  our  india  rubber  blankets  and  ponchos,  and  went  to 
sleep.  At  daylight  we  rode  forward,  the  division  having  passed  us. 

The  next  day  we  were  ordered  back  to  Alexandria,  and  a  little  before 
dark,  reached  the  camp  we  left  a  few  days  before.  We  are  now  in  a  new 
camp,  on  the  hill,  near  the  seminary,  on  the  opposite  side  from  where  we 
were  last  winter. 

Thus  ends  the  campaign.  Many  will  call  it  a  failure.  It  is  true  we 
have  failed  to  take  Richmond,  but  we  have  not  been  defeated  ;  and  after  a 
thorough  reorganization,  we  shall  be  more  powerful  than  ever.  General 
McClellan  is  again  in  full  command,  and  he  is  the  only  man  we  seem  to 
have  as  yet.  Had  it  not  been  for  his  army,  Washington  would  now  be  in 
the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and  our  cause  probably  ruined. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

SOON  after  reaching  Alexandria,  from  the  peninsula,  Gen. 
McClellan  was  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  Gen.  John  Pope  was  placed  at  its  head. 
The  latter  was  busy  marshaling  his  forces  for  the  disastrous 
battle  of  second  Bull  Run,  which  will  be  remembered  in 
history  for  the  frothy  orders  of  Gen.  Pope,  that  were  pre 
faced  with — "  Picks  and  shovels  to  the  rear !"  "  No  more 
lines  of  retreat !"  "  Honor  is  at  the  front ! — Shame  and 
disgrace  are  at  the  rear!"  These  orders,  with  the  jealousy 
of  the  subordinate  officers,  of  which  Fitz  John  Porter  was 
made  the  "  scapegoat,"  have  given  this  campaign  a  prom 
inent  place  in  the  history  of  the  rebellion.  Pope  blazed 
forth  like  a  meteor,  and  disappeared  as  quickly.  McClellan 
was  once  more  placed  in  command,  on  September  2d, 
and  the  first  part  of  September,  orders  were  given  to  move 
through  Maryland,  to  intercept  Lee's  army,  which,  follow 
ing  up  the  victory  at  Bull  Run,  was  now  attempting  to 
transfer  the  fighting  ground  from  Virginia  to  the  Northern 
States.  We  remained  at  Fort  Lyon  till  the  evening  of  the 
5th,  when  we  broke  camp  and  moved  towards  Washington, 
and  crossing  the  Long  Bridge,  about  midnight,  we  moved 
slowly  through  the  city,  on  towards  Georgetown  ;  and  about 
daylight,  after  a  fifteen-mile  march,  camped  on  Georgetown 
Heights.  The  following  night  we  made  another  seven-mile 
march.  After  this  we  continued  to  march  every  day,  pass 
ing  Darnsville,  then  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain  on  the  I2th, 


LlEUTENANT-COL.    J.    H.    BODINE. 


BATTLE   OF   SOUTH    MOUNTAIN.  91 

where  we  saw  some  dead  cavalrymen,  who  had  been  killed 
on  the  skirmish  line ;  then  through  Paducah,  and  near 
Frederic,  and  through  Jefferson  ;  and,  on  Sunday  morning, 
the  1 4th,  arrived  at  Burketsville,  on  the  east  and  under  the 
shadow  of  South  Mountain,  and  near  to  the  enemy's  lines. 
The  96th  Pennsylvania  had  the  lead  to-day,  and,  advancing 
through  the  village,  Col.  Cake  reported  that  he  had  not 
found  the  enemy.  This  report  not  suiting  Gen.  Slocum, 
he  rode  up  to  Gen.  Bartlett  and  said  :  "  General,  I  want 
you  to  order  my  old  regiment  to  move  out  and  find  the 
enemy."  Gen.  Bartlett  then  rode  up  to  Col.  Adams,  and 
pointing  with  his  sword,  said  :  "  I  want  you  to  take  your 
regiment  and  go  to  the  top  of  that  mountain,  unless  you 
find  the  enemy  !"  We  were  soon  ordered  forward,  and  in 
heavy  marching  order,  at  double  quick,  deployed  as  skir 
mishers  on  an  open  plain,  facing  the  mountain, — the  centre 
of  the  line  following  the  road  \vhich  crosses  the  mountain 
at  this  place,  known  as  Crampton's  Pass.  As  we  advanced, 
the  enemy  opened  on  us  with  artillery,  stationed  half-way 
up  the  mountain,  and  with  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry  from 
behind  trees  and  rocks,  and  a  stone  wall  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  The  skirmishers  advanced  in  splendid  line  till 
within  thirty  or  forty  rods  of  the  wall,  when  we  were  or 
dered  to  rally,  and  give  place  to  the  line  of  battle  that  was 
coming  on  close  behind  us.  One  squad  of  the  pickets  took 
shelter  in  a  barn-yard,  behind  the  sheds  and  outbuildings, 
where  they  kept  up  a  lively  and  telling  fire  till  the  main  line 
came  up.  Another  squad  of  pickets,  not  hearing  the  order 
to  rally,  found  themselves  between  the  two  lines  of  battle, 
and  were  obliged  to  lie  down, — the  bullets  cutting  up  the 
ground  all  around  them.  Others  joined  the  main  line  in 
the  charge  on  the  stone  wall.  As  our  men  went  over  the 
wall,  some  of  the  rebels  tried  to  retreat,  and  others  threw 
down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  Those  on  the  retreat 
were  exposed  to  our  fire  from  behind,  and  very  few  of  them 
made  their  escape.  On  went  our  line,  up  the  side  of  the 
steep  mountain, — so  steep  in  many  places  that  the  men  had 
to  pull  themselves  up  by  taking  hold  of  the  bushes.  We 


92       RECORD  OF  2;TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

soon  had  their  second  line  on  the  retreat ;  and,  after  an  ac 
tion  lasting  three  hours,  drove  them  over  the  mountain, 
capturing  one  piece  of  artillery,  about  three  hundred  pris 
oners,  and  three  stands  of  colors,  one  of  which  was  taken 
by  the  i6th  New  York.  On  this  flag  was  inscribed  the  fol 
lowing :  "  COBB  LEGION — IN  THE  NAME  OF  THE  LORD!" 
Our  advance  was  so  rapid  that  some  of  the  sharp-shooters 
had  not  time  to  climb  down  from  the  trees.  During  the 
day  we  could  hear  heavy  cannonading  on  our  right.  This 
proved  to  be  another  battle  on  South  Mountain,  where 
Gens.  Burnside  and  Hooker  drove  the  enemy  out  of  Tur 
ner's  Gap,  some  six  miles  to  the  north.  Two  braver  "  sol 
diers'  battles  "  were  never  fought  than  these  of  Crampton's 
Pass  and  Turner's  Gap,  on  South  Mountain.  Our  regiment 
lost  in  this  fight,  six  men  killed,  two  officers  and  twenty-five 
men  wounded  ;  total,  thirty-three.  The  total  loss  of  the 
division  in  this  battle  was  5  officers  and  109  men  killed, 
1 6  officers  and  381  men  wounded,  and  2  men  captured. 
Total,  513. 

The  following  interesting  account  of  this  battle  is  from 
the  Century  Magazine : 

Upon  Franklin's  arrival  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  at 
Burkettsville,  at  noon  of  the  I4th,  he  found  the  enemy 
posted  behind  a  stone  wall,  while  the  artillery  were  on  the 
road,  well  up  the  heights.  About  3  .P.  M.  Bartlett's  brigade, 
supported  by  the  brigades  of  Newton  and  Torbert,  and  all 
of  Slocum's  division,  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  and  a  se 
vere  contest  ensued.  The  enemy,  overpowered,  fell  back 
up  the  hill,  firing  upon  our  men  from  behind  rocks  and  the 
natural  defensive  positions  presented  by  the  ground,  until 
they  reached  their  artillery,  where  they  made  a  more  de 
cided  stand.  Their  riflemen  took  advantage  of  every  pos 
sible  cover  of  ledge  and  rock  and  tree. 

A  Vermont  soldier  told  me  that,  during  this  up-hill  fight, 
while  climbing  over  a  ledge,  he  slipped  and  fell  eighteen  or 
twenty  feet,  between  two  rocks.  Rapid  as  had  been  his 
tumble,  upon  his  arrival  he  found  himself  preceded  by  a 
Confederate  soldier.  For  an  instant  they  glared  angrily  at 


A    REBEL   AND    A    YANKEE    IN   "  A    FIX.  93 

each  other,  when  the  "  reb."  burst  out  laughing,  saying: 
"  We're  both  in  a  fix !  You  can't  gobble  me,  and  I  can't 
gobble  you,  till  we  know  which  is  going  to  lick.  Let's  wait 
till  the  shooting  is  over,  and  if  your  side  wins,  I'm  your 
prisoner;  and  if  we  win,  you're  my  prisoner!"  The  bar 
gain  was  made.  u  But,"  said  my  informant,  "  didn't  that 
reb.  feel  cheap  when  he  found  I'd  won  him  !" 

After  this  fight  we  remained  two  days  in  camp,  near  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  where  we  buried  the  dead  of  both 
armies,  and  cared  for  the  wounded.  Water  was  scarce  in 
this  camp,  as  it  had  to  be  brought  in  canteens  from  the  foot 
of  the  mountain,  more  than  a  mile  away. 

Gen.  McClellan,  reporting  on  this  battle,  says : 

"  Slocum's  division  was  formed  on  the  right  of  the  road 
leading  through  the  gap,  and  Smith's  upon  the  left.  A  line 
formed  of  Bartlett's  and  Torbett's  brigades,  supported  by 
Newton,  whose  activity  was  conspicuous,  advanced  steadily 
upon  the  enemy  at  a  charge  on  the  right.  The  enemy  were 
driven  from  their  position  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
where  they  were  protected  by  a  stone  wall,  and  steadily 
forced  back  up  the  slope  until  they  reached  the  position  of 
their  battery  on  the  road,  well  up  the  mountain.  There 
they  made  a  stand,  but  were  soon  driven  back,  retiring  their 
artillery  in  echelon,  until,  after  an  action  of  three  hours, 
the  crest  was  gained,  and  the  enemy  hastily  fled  down  the 
mountain  on  the  other  side." 

September  I7th,  heavy  cannonading  commenced  at  day 
light,  and  soon  after,  we  formed  our  line  and  moved  over 
the  west  side  of  the  mountain.  While  descending,  we  had 
a  view  of  the  well  cultivated  valley  lying  beneath,  with  good 
farms  and  good  buildings,  the  latter  resembling  more  fully 
the  farm  buildings  of  the  North,  rather  than  those  of  the 
South.  But  little  opportunity,  however,  was  given  us  to 
take  in  the  beauty  spread  before  us,  for  we  could  hear,  a 
few  miles  in  front,  a  continuous  roar  of  cannonading  and 
musketry,  and  we  must  hurry  on  to  take  our  part. 

About  noon  we  reached  Keedysville,  and  found  many  of 
the  houses  in  possession  of  our  surgeons,  and  fast  being 


DR.  WM.  H.  STUART,  ASSISTANT-SURGEON. 


ADVANCE   TO   ANTIETAM.  95 

filled  with  our  wounded.  The  streets  were  almost  blocked 
with  ambulances,  waiting  to  unload  their  mangled;  suffering 
burdens,  while  the  surgeons  and  assistants,  with  coats  off 
and  sleeves  rolled  up  ;  with  hands  and  amputating  instru 
ments  covered  with  blood,  looked  more  like  butchers  in  the 
shambles,  than  like  professional  men  in  hospitals.  On  we 
went,  and,  two  miles  further,  we  reached  the  battle-field  of 
Antietam,  and  were  placed  in  line  of  battle ;  then,  loading 
our  pieces,  we  moved  forward  across  fields,  through  bits  of 
wood  and  over  fences,  continually  passing  the  dead,  in  blue 
or  gray,  and  meeting  stretcher-carriers  with  wounded,  on 
their  way  to  the  rear. 

Finally  we  took  position  in  a  cornfield,  about  the  centre 
of  our  lines,  where  the  heaviest  fighting  had  taken  place, 
some  two  hours  before.  The  dead  lay  so  thick  that  we  had 
to  pull  them  out  of  the  way  to  make  room  for  the  troops 
to  form  their  lines.  This  ground  had  been  fought  over 
twice  before  we  reached  it,  each  side  holding  it  in  turn. 
The  corn  was  trampled  to  the  ground,  and  some  bushes 
that  were  left  standing,  were  completely  riddled  with  bul 
lets.  Here  we  formed  our  line,  and  remained  all  day,  sup 
porting  some  batteries,  with  one  company  out  as  skirmishers. 
We  took  but  little  part  in  the  fighting,  the  most  severe  of 
which  seemed  to  be  on  our  left,  by  Burnside's  corps,  at 
Monocacy  Bridge.  The  bridge  had  been  captured  by  our 
men  during  the  day,  and  Gen.  Lee,  seeing  the  importance 
of  regaining  it,  hurled  brigade  after  brigade  of  his  best 
troops  against  it.  But  it  was  no  use.  Burnside,  with  his 
corps,  had  come  there  to  stay ;  and  they  met  every  charge 
of  the  enemy  with  a  counter  charge,  and  advanced  till  they 
occupied  the  heights  beyond. 

Darkness  now  settled  upon  the  field,  and  we  unrolled  our 
blankets  and  laid  down,  behind  our  stacks  of  guns,  ready  to 
"  fall  in."  We  were  called  in  line  several  times  during  the 
night,  by  the  pickets  firing  at  each  other.  When,  on  each 
occasion,  quiet  was  restored,  the  wearied  men  would  lie 
down  among  the  dead  and  fall  asleep.  Thus  ended  the 
first  and  principal  day  of  the  Antietam  battle ;  and  although 


96  RECORD   Ol<    2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

we  took  but  little  part  in  the  fighting,  it  was  the  hardest- 
fought  battle  of  the  war,  up  to  this  date. 

September  i8th  we  were  called  in  line  at  daylight,  as  an 
attack  was  expected.  We  remained  standing  under  arms 
till  sunrise,  when  Maj.  H.  C.  Rogers,  of  Gen.  Slocum's  staff, 
and  some  other  officers  were  sent  out  to  meet  a  flag  of  truce 
from  Gen.  Lee,  when,  after  a  short  parley,  it  was  agreed  to 
cease  hostilities  until  5  P.  M.,  in  order  to  bury  the  dead,  and 
carry  off  the  wounded  that  lay  uncared  for  between  the 
lines.  The  bodies  of  the  dead,  having  lain  so  long  exposed 
to  the  sun,  were  rapidly  decomposing,  and  the  stench  was 
almost  unendurable.  Many  of  the  men  could  not  eat,  and 
became  sick  from  breathing  the  tainted  air.  The  day  was 
spent  with  pick  and  shovel,  digging  long  trenches,  in  which 
the  dead  were  buried.  In  one  space  of  less  than  half  an 
acre,  sixty-five  members  of  a  South  Carolina  regiment  were 
picked  up  and  buried.  The  work  was  not  all  completed 
when  5  o'clock,  the  hour  for  the  expiration  of  the  armistice, 
had  arrived  ;  and,  without  warning,  the  enemy  fired  on  our 
stretcher-carriers,  wounding  five  and  taking  seven  prisoners. 
After  this,  Maj.  Rogers  was  once  more  sent  out  with  a  white 
flag,  and  the  time  of  the  armistice  was  extended  until  morn 
ing.  The  night  was  passed  in  comparative  quiet,  the  men 
sleeping  till  daylight. 

At  sunrise  our  skirmishers  advanced,  and  found  that  the 
enemy  had  retreated  during  the  night  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  Potomac.  In  this,  Lee  had  outwitted  McClellan, 
taking  advantage  of  the  truce  to  retreat  across  the  river, 
but  leaving  his  wounded  in  our  hands. 

About  noon  we  received  orders  to  move,  and  marched 
across  the  field,  when  the  stench  from  the  unburied  dead 
again  sickened  some  of  the  men.  Guns  and  equipments 
by  the  thousand  lay  scattered  about  the  fields,  showing 
with  what  haste  the  enemy  had  retreated.  We  shortly 
came  to  the  bank  of  the  Potomac  and  camped,  but  Lee's 
army  had  disappeared  over  the  hills  on  the  Virginia  side. 
Thus  ended  the  first  attempt  of  Lee  to  carry  the  war  into 
the  Northern  States. 


A   FEAST   OF   GOOD   THINGS.  97 

September  2Oth,  about  dark,  we  started  and  marched  all 
night  to  Williamsport,  Md.,  where  we  arrived  about  noon 
of  the  2 1 st.  It  was  thought  that  the  enemy  would  make 
an  attempt  to  recross  the  river  here  ;  so  we  were  sent  to 
receive  them  ;  but,  after  two  days,  we  marched  back  to 
Bakersville,  near  the  field  of  Antietam,  where  we  camped 
till  November.  Here  the  time  was  spent  in  camp  and  picket 
duty.  Our  picket  line  was  along  the  Potomac,  the  regiment 
being  on  duty  near  Shaffer's  Mill,  eight  miles  above  Dam 
No.  4.  The  rebel  pickets  were  often  in  sight,  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  river. 

Wednesday,  September  24th. — The  orders  are  that  we  lie 
in  camp  a  day  or  two,  so  that  the  boys  can  wash  up  their 
clothing,  and  bathe  in  the  creek.  We  are  having  good 
times  ;  can  go  out  of  camp  and  get  anything  we  want  to 
eat — soft  bread,  pies,  and  flour  from  which  we  make  pan 
cakes,  which  are  a  great  luxury. 

September  25th. — Are  still  lying  in  camp  at  Bakersville. 
Nothing  of  interest  is  being  done  in  camp.  The  boys  all  feel 
in  good  spirits,  for  all  they  have  to  do  is  to  go  out  and  get 
chickens,  turkeys  and  flour,  and  then  make  pot-pies  for 
dinner. 

Monday,  September  29th. — Still  in  camp.  Nothing  of 
importance  doing,  only  some  of  the  officers  are  having  a 
spree,  and  raising  the  —  -  generally  throughout  camp. 

Dress  parade  as  usual,  at  6  P.  M. 

October  4th. — The  army  was  reviewed  by  Gen.  McClellan 
and  President  Lincoln.  The  same  day  a  squad  of  returned 
prisoners,  who  had  been  captured  at  the  first  Bull  Run 
battle,  returned  to  camp,  and  were  given  a  warm  reception. 
These  men  had  been  held  as  prisoners  more  than  ten  months, 
and  had  been  in  parol  camp  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  for  some 
months,  waiting  to  be  exchanged.  All  seemed  glad  to  be 
back  in  camp,  and  said  they  were  ready  again  to  meet  the 
enemy.  (For  a  detailed  account  of  the  prison-life  of  these 
men,  see  the  last  chapter.) 

October  5th,  the  Articles  of  War  were  read  to  the  regi 
ment,  for  the  first  time,  by  Col.  Adams ;  and  about  the 


98       RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

same   time,  the   following  general    orders,   relating   to   the 
battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam,  were  issued : 

General  Orders  No.  160. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,      ) 
CAMP  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  Md.,  Oct.  3,   1862.  ( 

The  commanding  general  extends  his  congratulations  to  the  army  un 
der  his  command,  for  the  victories  achieved  by  their  bravery  at  the  passes 
of  the  South  Mountain,  and  upon  the  Antietam  Creek. 

The  brilliant  conduct  of  Reno's  and  Hooker's  corps,  under  Burnside, 
at  Turner's  Gap  ;  and  of  Franklin's  corps,  at  Crampton's  Pass,  in  which, 
in  the  face  of  an  enemy  strong  in  position,  and  resisting  with  obstinacy, 
they  carried  the  mountain,  and  prepared  the  way  for  the  advance  of  the 
army,  won  for  them  the  admiration  of  their  brethren  in  arms. 

In  the  memorable  battle  of  Antietam,  we  defeated  a  numerous  and 
powerful  army  of  the  enemy,  in  an  action  desperately  fought,  and  remark 
able  for  its  duration,  and  for  the  destruction  of  life  which  attended  it. 
The  obstinate  bravery  of  the  troops  of  Hooker,  Mansfield  and  Sumner  ; 
the  dashing  gallantry  of  those  of  Franklin,  on  the  right  ;  the  sturdy  valor 
of  those  of  Burnside,  on  the  left  ;  and  the  vigorous  support  of  Porter  and 
Pleasanton,  present  a  brilliant  spectacle  to  our  countrymen,  which  will 
swell  their  hearts  with  pride  and  exultation.  Fourteen  guns,  thirty-nine 
colors,  15,50x3  stand  of  arms,  and  nearly  6,000  prisoners  taken  from  the 
enemy,  are  evidences  of  the  completeness  of  our  triumph.  A  grateful 
country  will  thank  this  noble  army  for  achievements  which  have  rescued 
the  loyal  States  of  the  East  from  the  ravages  of  the  invader,  and  have 
driven  him  from  their  borders. 

While  rejoicing  at  the  victories  which,  under  God's  blessing,  have 
crowned  our  exertions,  let  us  cherish  the  memory  of  our  brave  compan 
ions  who  have  laid  down  their  lives  upon  the  battle-field  :  Martyrs  in 
their  country's  cause,  their  names  will  ever  be  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people. 

By  command  of  Major-General   McClellan. 

S.  WILLIAMS, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 


FRANKLIN  S    REPORT.  99 

Report  of  Major-Gen.  William  B.  Franklin,  U.  S.  Army, 

Commanding  6th  Army  Corps,  of  the  Battles 

of  Crampton's  Pass  and  Antietam. 

HEADQUARTERS  SIXTH  ARMY  CORPS,          ) 
CAMP  NEAR  BAKERSVILLE,  Md.,  Sept.  3,  1862.  ( 

GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  opera 
tions  of  the  corps  under  my  command,  in  the  battle  of  the  I4th  instant,  at 
Crampton's  Pass.  In  compliance  with  instructions  of  the  commanding 
general,  the  corps  advanced,  on  the  morning  of  the  I4th  instant,  from  a 
point  three  miles  east  of  Jefferson,  in  the  direction  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
At  Jefferson  a  halt  was  ordered,  to  afford  Gen.  Couch  an  opportunity  of 
coming  up.  After  a  short  delay,  upon  learning  that  this  division  was  still 
some  distance  in  the  reai,  I  advanced  to  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  Bur- 
kettsville.  Upon  ascertaining  that  the  pass  over  the  mountains  at  this 
point — which  I  was  directed  to  secure  and  hold — was  occupied  by  the  en 
emy  in  force,  I  caused  immediate  preparations  to  be  made  for  an  attack. 
The  enemy  was  strongly  posted  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  which  makes  a 
steep  ascent  through  a  narrow  defile,  wooded  on  both  sides,  and  affording 
great  advantages  of  cover  and  position.  Their  advance  was  posted  near 
the  base  of  the  mountain,  in  the  rear  of  a  stone  wall,  stretching  to  the 
right  of  the  road  at  a  point  where  the  ascent  is  gradual,  and  for  the  most 
part  over  open  fields.  Eight  guns  had  been  stationed  on  the  road,  and  at 
points  on  the  sides  and  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  to  the  left  of  the  pass. 

It  was  evident  that  the  position  could  be  carried  only  by  an  infantry 
charge.  Accordingly  I  directed  Major-Gen.  Slocum  to  advance  his  di 
vision  through  the  village  of  Burkettsville,  and  commence  the  attack  upon 
the  right.  Woolcott's  First  Maryland  Battery  was  stationed  on  the  left, 
and  to  the  rear  of  the  village,  and  maintained  a  steady  fire  on  the  positions 
of  the  enemy  until  they  were  assailed  and  carried  by  our  troops.  Smith's 
division  was  placed  in  reserve  on  the  east  side  of  the  village,  and  held  in 
readiness  to  co-operate  with  Gen.  Slocum,  or  support  his  attack,  as  occa 
sion  might  require.  Capt.  Ayres'  battery,  of  this  division,  was  posted  on 
a  commanding  ground  to  the  left  of  the  reserves,  and  kept  up  an  uninter 
rupted  fire  on  the  principal  battery  of  the  enemy  until  the  latter  was  driven 
from  its  position. 

The  advance  of  Gen.  Slocum  was  made  with  admirable  steadiness, 
through  a  well-directed  fire  from  the  batteries  on  the  mountain,  the  brig 
ade  of  Col.  Bartlett  taking  the  lead,  followed,  at  proper  intervals,  by  the 


100  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

brigades  of  Gen.  Newton  and  Col.  Torbert.  Upon  fully  determining  thex 
enemy's  position,  the  skirmishers  were  withdrawn,  and  Col.  Bartlett's 
brigade  became  engaged  along  his  entire  line.  He  maintained  his  ground 
steadily  under  a  severe  fire,  for  some  time  under  a  manifest  disadvantage, 
until  reinforced  by  two  regiments  of  Gen.  Newton's  brigade  upon  his 
right,  and  the  brigade  of  Col.  Torbert  and  the  two  remaining  regiments 
of  Newton's  on  his  left.  The  line  of  battle  thus  formed,  an  immediate 
charge  was  ordered,  and  most  gallantly  executed.  The  men  swept  for 
ward,  with  a  cheer,  over  the  stone  wall,  dislodging  the  enemy,  and  pursu 
ing  him  up  the  mountain-side  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  down  the  oppo 
site  slope.  This  single  charge,  sustained  as  it  was  over  a  great  distance, 
and  on  a  rough  ascent  of  unusual  steepness,  was  decisive.  The  enemy 
was  driven  in  the  utmost  confusion  from  a  position  of  strength,  and  al 
lowed  no  opportunity  for  even  an  attempt  to  rally,  until  the  pass  was 
cleared,  and  in  the  possession  of  our  troops. 

The  victory  was  complete,  and  its  achievement  followed  so  rapidly 
upon  the  first  attack,  that  the  enemy's  reserves,  although  pushed  forward 
at  the  double-quick,  arrived  but  in  time  to  participate  in  the  flight,  and 
add  confusion  to  the  rout. 

Four  hundred  prisoners,  from  seventeen  different  organizations,  seven 
hundred  stand  of  arms,  one  piece  of  artillery,  and  three  stand  of  colors 
were  captured,  while  numberless  articles  of  equipment,  knapsacks,  haver 
sacks,  blankets,  etc.,  were  abandoned  by  the  enemy  in  their  flight. 

The  gallantry  of  the  officers,  and  the  spirit  and  dash  displayed  by  the 
troops,  are  worthy  of  the  highest  praise  ;  and  I  respectfully  call  attention 
to  the  recommendations  made  in  the  accompanying  reports  of  Major-Gen. 
Slocum  and  the  commanders  of  brigades,  and  solicit  for  them  the  favor 
able  notice  of  the  commanding  general.  I  also  respectfully  refer  to  the 
reports  in  question  for  a  uetailed  account  of  the  operations  of  the  respec 
tive  brigades,  and  for  the  names  of  such  officers  as  have  won  honorable 
mention  for  their  gallant  bearing  in  the  field.  While  fully  concurring  in 
the  recommendation  offered  in  behalf  of  Cols.  Bartlett,  and  Torbert,  who 
have  certainly  earned  promotion  on  this  and  other  occasions,  I  respect 
fully  and  earnestly  request  that  Brigadier-Gen.  Newton  may  be  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  major-general,  for  his  conspicuous  gallantry  and  important 
services  during  the  entire  engagement. 

The  prompt  and  energetic  action  of  Dr.  White,  the  medical  director  of 
the  corps  ;  of  Dr.  Bradley,  his  assistant ;  and  of  the  medical  staff  of  the 
different  organizations  engaged  in  bringing  off  and  caring  for  the  wounded, 
is  worthy  of  the  highest  praise. 


SLOCUM  S   REPORT.  IOI 

Our  total  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  is  530.  Of  these,  16  are  officers, 
5  of  whom  were  killed.  The  total  loss,  killed,  was  no;  wounded,  420. 

The  losses  of  the  enemy  are  not  accurately  known.  We  buried  150  of 
their  dead,  and  took  charge  of  more  than  300  of  their  wounded,  who  were 
left  upon  the  field. 

I   am.   General,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.   B.   FRANKLIN, 
Major-General,  Commanding  Sixth  Corps. 


Report  of  Major-Gen.  Henry  W.  Slocum,  U.  S.  Army, 

Commanding  the  First   Division,  of  the 

Battle  of  Crampton's  Pass. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION,  SIXTH  CORPS,  ) 
CAMP  IN  THE  FIELD,  Sept.  24,  1862.  j 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  of  submitting  the  following  report  of  the  action 
of  this  division  in  the  engagement  at  Crampton's  Pass,  on  the'i4th  inst. 
The  division  encamped,  on  the  night  of  the  I3th,  about  three  miles  east  of 
Jefferson,  on  the  road  leading  from  Urbana  to  Jefferson.  At  daylight  on 
the  I4th  instant  the  division  left  camp,  moved  through  Jefferson,  and  at 
12  M.  met  the  pickets  of  the  enemy,  near  Burkettsville.  Col.  Bartlett, 
commanding  the  leading  brigade,  at  once  deployed  the  Ninety-sixth  Reg 
iment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  as  skirmishers,  who  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets,  and  advanced  to  the  village.  The  other  regiments  of  the  division 
were  then  advanced  to  a  position  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  village, 
where  they  were  completely  concealed  from  the  view  of  the  enemy,  and 
covered  from  the  fire  of  his  artillery.  Wolcott's  First  Maryland  Battery 
was  then  advanced  to  a  point  to  the  left  of  the  infantry,  and  replied  to  the 
enemy's  artillery,  until  preparations  for  the  attack  of  the  infantry  were 
completed. 

At  3  P.  M.  the  column  of  attack  was  formed  in  the  following  order  : 
The  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers  deployed  as  skir 
mishers,  followed,  at  a  distance  of  200  yards,  by  the  Fifth  Maine  and 
Sixteenth  New  York  Volunteers,  in  line  of  battle  ;  the  brigades  of  Gen. 
Newton  and  Col.  Torbert  followed,  each  brigade  being  in  two  lines,  the 


1(32      RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

regiments  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  lines  200  yards  from  each  other  the- 
Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  of  Bartlett's  brigade,  which  had 
advanced  into  the  village,  formed  in  rear,  and  joined  the  column  as  it  ad 
vanced  :  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  New  York  Volunteers  was 
held  as  a  reserve,  at  the  point  where  the  column  was  formed.  As  soon  ;is 
the  advance  began,  the  enemy  opened  with  a  heavy  and  well  directed  ar 
tillery  fire  ;  but  the  troops  advanced  steadily,  every  line  in  the  entire  col 
umn  preserving  its  alignment  with  as  much  accuracy  as  could  have  been 
expected  at  a  drill  or  review.  The  line  of  skirmishers  soon  drew  the  fire 
of  the  enemy's  infantry,  which  appeared  in  strong  position  in  rear  of  a 
stone  wall,  which  afforded  them  an  admirable  cover. 

The  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy  having  been  ascertained,  the 
skirmishers  were  withdrawn,  and  Col.  Bartlett  led  the  first  line  to  a  point 
within  300  yards  of  the  enemy's  line.  A  severe  engagement  ensued,  the 
enemy  having  greatly  the  advantage  in  position,  and  being  aided  by  at 
least  eight  pieces  of  artillery,  posted  on  the  side  of  the  mountain.  The 
position  of  this  pass  and  its  approaches  rendered  it  evident  that,  in  the 
attempt  to  carry  it,  reliance  was  to  be  placed  mainly  upon  the  infantry. 
I  had,  therefore,  left  all  the  artillery  of  the  division  in  rear;  but,  fearing 
that  the  stone  wall  behind  which  the  enemy  had  taken  cover,  would  prove 
an  insurmountable  obstacle  to  the  advance  of  my  lines,  I  at  once  used 
every  effort  to  bring  forward  a  battery,  with  the  view  of  driving  the  enemy 
from  his  position.  But,  before  the  battery  was  fairly  in  position  this  ob 
stacle  had  been  overcome  by  a  most  gallant  charge  of  the  infantry,  and  tin- 
enemy  were  fleeing  in  confusion  up  the  mountain,  closely  pursued  by 
every  regiment  of  the  division,  except  the  one  in  reserve,  each  vying  with 
the  other  in  the  pursuit. 

The  enemy  made  another  stand  at  the  crest  of  the  mountain,  but  was 
speedily  dispersed,  and  pursued  through  the  pass  and  into  the  plain  below. 
The  victory  was  complete,  and  resulted  not  only  in  the  utter  rout  and  dis 
persion  of  the  forces  opposed  to  us,  but  in  the  capture  of  over  30(3  pris 
oners,  3  stand  of  colors,  over  700  stand  of  arms  of  the  most  approved 
pattern  I  piece  of  artillery,  and  a  very  large  number  of  knapsacks  haver 
sacks,  blankets,  etc. 

Of  the  gallantry  of  the  officers  and  men  under  my  command,  I  cannot 
speak  too  highly.  Although  greatly  reduced  in  numbers  by  losses  on  the 
peninsula  ,  although  fatigued  by  long  marches,  and  constant  service  since 
the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign,  each  regiment — indeed,  every  man 
did  his  whole  duty,  not  reluctantly,  but  with  that  eagerness  and  enthu 
siasm  which  rendered  success  certain. 


SLOCUM  S   AND   BARTLETT'S   REPORTS.  103 

To  attempt  to  designate  any  regiment,  or  any  regimental  or  line  officers, 
as  being  entitled  to  particular  notice,  would  be  an  act  of  injustice  to  all 
others.  I  cannot,  however,  without  great  injustice  omit  to  call  attention 
to  the  conduct  of  the  brigade  commanders,  Gen.  Newton,  Col.  Bartlett, 
and  Col.  Torbert,  all  of  whom  led  their  brigades  in  the  action,  and  gave 
renewed  evidence  of  their  skill  and  courage.  Col.  Bartlett,  commanding 
the  leading  brigade,  was  on  this,  as  on  all  former  occasions,  conspicuous 
for  his  gallantry,  and  the  skill  with  which  he  handled  his  troops  under  a 
most  galling  fire.  I  sincerely  trust  that  both  Col.  Bartlett  and  Col.  Torbert, 
commanding  their  respective  brigades,  both  of  whom  have  given  abundant 
proofs  of  their  qualifications  for  the  positions  which  they  now  occupy,  as 
brigade  commanders,  may  be  rewarded  by  the  promotion  they  have  so  well 
earned. 

I  append  a  list  of  casualties,  showing  the  number  of  officers  killed,  5  ; 
wounded,  16;  men  killed,  109;  wounded,  381.  Total  killed,  114;  wounded, 
397;  aggregate  loss  511.  This  list  embraces  many  of  the  bravest  and 
most  gallant  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  division,  for  a  more  particular 
reference  to  whom  I  respectfully  refer  to  the  reports  of  the  brigade  com 
manders  which  are  herewith  enclosed. 

1   am  greatly  indebted  to  the  members  of  my  staff,    Major  Rogers,  As- 
sisiant   Adjutant  General  ;    Lieutenants  Guindon  and   Shannon,  Aids-de- 
L'ain;>  :    an.l    t.j   C.ipt.   L'.quhart     of  Tol     Hartlett's   staff,    for  the   /.ealous 
n.^iKiLi  i.i   v.'..ij.i   tiitir  respective  duties  were  discharged. 
I   am.    sir,   very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.   W.   SLOCUM, 
Major-General   Volunteers,  Commanding. 


Report  of  Col.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett,  Twenty-Seventh  N.  Y. 

Infantry,  Commanding  Second  Brigade,  of 

the  Battle  of  Crampton's  Pass. 

HDQRS.  SECOND  BRIGADE,  FIRST  Div.,  SIXTH  CORPS, 
,   1862. 

MAJOR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  my  brigade  in  the  battle  of  Crampton's  Pass,  Sunday,  September 
I4th,  1862  : 


104  RECORD   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

My  command,  after  a  march  of  ten  miles,  arrived  opposite  the  village 
of  Burkettsvilleand  Crampton's  Pass  about  12  o'clock  M.,  with  the  Ninety- 
sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  Col.  Cake  commanding,  deployed  as  skir 
mishers.  The  enemy's  pickets  retired  from  the  town,  and  opened  an  ar 
tillery  fire  from  two  batteries  upon  the  line  of  skirmishers.  I  was  ordered 
by  Major-Gen.  Slocum  to  halt,  until  he  could  mass  his  troops  and  arrange* 
the  plan  of  the  assault,  as  the  appearance  of  the  mountain  pass  convinced 
all  that  artillery  was  of  no  avail  against  it,  and  that  nothing  but  a  com 
bined  and  vigorous  charge  of  infantry  would  carry  the  mountain. 

It  being  decided  that  the  attack  should  be  made  on  the  right  and  flank 
of  the  road  leading  over  the  mountain,  1  was  ordered  to  lead  the  column, 
under  cover  from  artillery  fire,  and  as  secretly  as  possible,  to  a  large  field 
near  its  base,  where  the  column  of  attack  was  to  be  formed,  each  brigade 
in  two  lines,  at  200  paces  in  rear. 

About  4  o'clock  p.  M.  I  ordered  forward  the  Twenty  seventh  New  York 
Volunteers,  Lieutenant-Col.  A.  D.  Adams  commanding,  to  deploy  as  skir 
mishers;  and  upon  their  placing  the  interval  ordered  between  the  column 
of  attack  and  their  line,  I  advanced  at  quick  time  the  Fifth  Maine  Volun 
teers,  Col.  A.  J.  Jackson  commanding  ;  and  Sixteenth  New  York  Volun 
teers,  Lieutenant-Col.  J.  J.  Seaver  commanding.  My  line  of  skirmishers 
found  the  enemy  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  safely  lodged  behind  a  strong 
stone  wall.  Their  entire  line,  being  now  developed,  exhibited  a  large  force. 
My  first  line  advanced  rapidly  and  steadily  to  the  front,  under  a  severe  fire 
of  artillery  from  the  heights  above,  and  musketry  from  behind  the  wall  and 
the  trees  on  the  slope  above  it.  Halting  behind  a  rail  fence,  about  300 
yards  from  the  enemy,  the  skirmishers  were  withdrawn,  and  the  battle 
commenced. 

By  some  unexplained  and  unaccountable  mistake,  more  than  1,000 
yards  intervened  between  the  head  of  the  column  of  Gen.  Newton's  brig 
ade  and  my  own  line  ;  and  nothing  but  the  most  undaunted  courage  and 
steadiness  on  the  part  of  the  two  regiments  forming  my  line,  maintained 
the  fight  until  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  the  attacking  column.  On  their 
arrival,  the  Thirty-second  New  York  Volunteers,  Col.  Matheson  com 
manding  ;  and  the  Eighteenth  New  York  Volunteers,  Lieutenant-Col. 
Myers  commanding,  were  sent  to  report  to  me,  by  order  of  Gen.  Newton, 
commanding  Third  Brigade.  The  Fifth  Maine  and  Sixteenth  New  York 
Volunteers  having  expended  their  ammunition,  I  relieved  them,  and 
formed  them  twenty  paces  in  rear. 

The  New  Jersey  brigade,  Col.  Torbert  commanding,  now  arrived  on 
the  left  of  the  line,  and  commenced  firing  by  its  first  line  ;  and  the  Ninety- 


BARTLETT'S  REPORT.  105 

sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  having  joined  my  command,  and  been 
positioned  by  me  on  the  extreme  right,  it  became  apparent  to  all  that 
nothing  but  a  united  charge  vvonld  dislodge  the  enemy  and  win  the  battle. 
A  moment's  consultation  with  Col.  Torbert  decided  us  to  make  the  charge 
immediately,  at  a  double  quick  ;  and  the  order  was  passed  along  the  line, 
to  "cease  firing,"  and  the  command  given  to  "charge!"  and  our  whole 
line  advanced  with  cheers,  rushing  over  the  intervening  space,  to  the  stone 
wall,  and  routing  the  enemy.  The  charge  was  maintained  to  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  up  an  almost  perpendicular  steep,  over  rocks  and  ledges, 
through  the  underbrush  and  timber,  until  the  crest,  overlooking  the  valley 
beyond,  was  gained.  The  victory  was  decisive  and  complete,  the  routed 
enemy  leaving  arms,  ammunition,  knapsacks,  haversacks  and  blankets, 
in  heaps  by  the  roadside. 

The  great  natural  strength  of  the  enemy's  position,  supported  by  his 
well-served  batteries,  made  it  absolutely  necessary  that  the  first  attempt 
should  be  successful,  or  great  cpnfusion  and  slaughter  must  ensue.  The 
success  was  fully  and  clearly  established  by  the  masterly  arrangement  of 
the  column  of  attack  by  Major-Gen.  Slocum  ;  and  circumstances  seemed 
to  have  been  controlled  by  some  master  hand,  to  enable  us  to  carry  out 
the  clear  instructions  received  before  the  assault.  All  orders  were  carried 
out  in  detail.  No  more  and  no  less  was  done  than  to  execute,  the  plan, 
during  the  fiercely  contested  assault,  which  was  so  clearly  expressed  in 
the  bivouac. 

I  have  the  honor  of  reporting  the  capture  of  one  battle-flag,  by  the  Six 
teenth  New  York  Volunteers. 

The  action  of  my  own  regiments,  and  of  the  Thirty-second  and  Eigh 
teenth  New  York  Volunteers,  who  were  under  my  command,  recommend 
them  to  the  highest  consideration  of  their  general  officers.  There  were 
no  officers,  field  or  line,  who  did  not  distinguish  themselves  upon  this 
occasion  ;  and  the  highest  praise  should  be  awarded  the  soldiers  under 
their  command. 

It  is  with  sorrow  I  have  to  report  the  death  of  Major  Martin,  Ninety- 
sixth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  who  fell  gallantly  leading  his  wing  of  the 
regiment  to  the  charge. 

My  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  the  brave,  able  and  gallant  assistance 
rendered  me  on  this,  as  on  all  former  occasions,  by  Lieut.  R.  P.  Wilson, 
acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  and  Lieut.  M.  E.  Richards,  acting 
Aid-de-camp. 

Among  the  surgeons  of  the  several  regiments,  Surg.  N.  S.  Barnes, 
Twenty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  I  wish  particularly  to  mention  for 


I06  RECORD    OF   2?TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

gallantry  in  following  his  regiment  into  battle,  and  establishing  his  field 
hospital  close  to  the  scene  of  action,  thereby  rendering  immediate  and 
valuable  assistance  to  the  wounded. 

JOS.  J.   BARTLETT, 
Colonel,   Commanding  Brigade. 


Report    of    Lieutenant-Colonel    Alexander    D.    Adams, 

Twenty-seventh    New  York  Infantry,  of  the 

Battle  of  Crampton's   Pass. 

HDQRS.  27'rn  N.  Y.  Voi.s.— IN  THE  FIELD,  NEAR  ) 
WILLIAMSPORT,   Md.,   Sept.  23,  1862.  ( 

LIEUTENANT  : — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
part  taken  by  this  regiment  in  the  action  of  Crampton's  Pass,  September 
l-ith,  1862  : 

On  leaving  Jefferson,  the  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  was  sent  out  in 
advance,  as  skirmishers  ;  and,  soon  after,  the  Sixteenth  New  York  was 
assigned  to  support  a  battery  ;  so  that  the  Twenty-seventh  had  the  advance 
on  approaching  the  pass.  The  presence  of  the  enemy  having  been  dis 
covered,  the  brigade  was  drawn  into  a  ravine,  in  column  by  battalion,  to 
avoid  his  artillery,  and  to  prepare  for  storming  the  gap.  Shortly  after,  the 
Ninetv-sixth  Pennsylvania  having  been  recalled  and  placed  in  the  column, 
the  brigade  moved,  under  cover  as  far  as  practicable,  toward  the  pass,  and 
at  3:30  the  Twenty-seventh—still  leading  the  column — was  ordered  by 
Col.  Bartlett,  commanding  brigade,  to  deploy  as  skirmishers,  advance  on 
the  pass,  and  develop  the  enemy's  position, — the  center  of  the  line,  which 
was  at  least  a  mile  long,  being  directed  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  pass. 
Almost  as  soon  as  the  deployment  was  completed,  and  the  flank  companies 
had  been  thrown  forward  a  little,  bringing  the  line  into  the  form  of  an  arc, 
the  skirmishers  became  briskly  engaged,  simultaneously  on  the  right  and 
left,  with  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  posted  at  the  base  of  the  moun 
tain,  behind  stone  fences  and  houses. 

The  firing  at  once  became  general  along  the  whole  line,  and  was  very 
rapid,  and  at  close  range.  In  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  the  first  line  of  attack 
of  this  brigade  had  advanced  to  the  left  of  the  center  of  the  line  of  skir 
mishers,  and  opened  a  fierce  fire  on  the  enemy  in  the  woods  in  front. 
After  considerable  interval,  the  musketry  continuing  fiercely,  the  Second 


ADAMS     REPORT.  IO7 

Brigade,  in  column,  Gen.  Newton's,  having  been  brought  up  to  support 
the  attack,  and  the  skirmishers,  as  well  as  the  first  line  of  Col.  Bartlett's 
brigade,  having  expended  their  ammunition,  the  colonel  commanding 
directed  that  the  skirmishers  should  retire  and  rally  on  the  center,  for  the 
purpose  of  re-forming  the  regiment.  This  was  done  in  good  order,  though, 
owing  to  the  extent  of  the  line,  it  necessarily  occupied  some  time, — the 
charge  which  carried  the  pass  being  made  when  but  three  or  four  compa 
nies  had  formed.  As  soon  as  the  flank  companies  had  come  in,  the  regi 
ment  was  placed  in  the  position  previously  indicated  by  Gen.  Bartlett, 
where  it  remained  until  the  next  morning.  The  action  had  terminated  in 
the  total  rout  of  the  enemy  before  this  position  was  taken  up. 

The  conduct  of  this  command,  during  the  entire  engagement,  was  most 
admirable.  Though  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  while 
advancing  over  the  open  fields,  there  was  no  faltering  or  hesitation,  and 
the  severe  musketry  fire  of  the  enemy  was  returned  with  the  cool  deliber 
ation  and  steady  aim  of  experienced  marksmen. 

It  is  reported  by  prisoners,  that  the  manner  and  steadiness  of  the  ad 
vance  convinced  the  enemy  that  he  had  not  raw  troops  to  deal  with.  The 
great  extent  of  the  line  rendered  the  transmission  of  orders  difficult,  and 
I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Major  Bodine  and  Adjutant  Thompson,  for  the 
aid  which  maintained  the  proper  disposition  and  unbroken  continuity  of 
the  line.  All  the  officers,  save  one,  maintained  and  added  to  the  reputa 
tion  they  had  won  in  the  previous  history  of  the  Twenty-seventh. 

It  would  not  be  proper  to  conclude  this  report  without  mentioning  the 
efficient  conduct  of  Surgeon  Barnes,  of  this  regiment,  whose  hospital  was 
established  nearest  to  the  field,  and  who  was  the  first  surgeon  to  visit  the 
wounded,  collected  in  the  houses  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  on  the 
field  after  the  action  was  over. 

The  casualties  are  :  6  killed,  and  27  wounded  ;  among  the  latter  are 
Lieuts.  Seely  and  Christman,  and  Color-bearer  Sergt.  McMahon. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

ALEXANDER    D.  ADAMS, 

Lieutenant-Colonel,   Commanding. 


108      RECORD  OF  2;TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Report  of  Major-Gen.  Wm.   B.  Franklin,    U.  S.    Army, 
Commanding  Sixth  Corps,  of  the  Battle  of  Antietam. 


HDQRS.  SIXTH  ARMY  CORPS — CAMP  NEAR  BAKERSVILLE,  Md 
October  7,  1862. 


1 


GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  oper 
ations  of  this  corps,  under  my  command,  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  on 
the  I7th  ultimo  : 

For  the  preceding  two  days  I  had  been  encamped  in  rear  of  Rohrers- 
ville,  in  Pleasant  Valley.  During  the  night  of  the  i6th  I  received  orders 
to  move  towards  Keedysville,  in  the  morning,  with  two  divisions,  and  to 
dispatch  Gen.  Couch's  division  to  occupy  Maryland  Heights. 

I  started  at  5:30  A.  M.  Gen.  Smith's  division  led  the  column,  and  its 
head  arrived  at  the  field  of  battle  about  n  o'clock.  This  division  was 
ordered  to  take  post  in  a  wood  on  the  left  of  the  stone  bridge  across  the 
Antietam  ;  and  I  was  directed  to  place  Slocum's  division  on  the  right  of 
the  same  bridge.  Before  the  arrival  of  Slocum's  division,  Gen.  Smith  was 
ordered  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  Gen.  Sumner,  forming  on  his  left.  He 
at  once  obeyed  this  order,  and  arrived  on  the  field  at  a  most  opportune 
moment.  His  first  brigade  (Hancock's)  formed  as  the  support  of  two  of 
Gen.  Sumner's  batteries  (then  severely  pressed  by  the  enemy),  drove  away 
his  skirmishers,  who  had  already  advanced  close  to  the  batteries,  and  oc 
cupied  some  buildings  and  fences  in  front  of  his  position.  This  brigade 
was  the  means  of  saving  two  batteries,  and  occupied  a  position  during  the 
remainder  of  the  action,  sometimes  under  very  heavy  cannonading. 
******* 

Slocum's  division  arrived  on  the  field  about  n  o'clock.  Immediately 
after  its  arrival,  two  of  his  brigades  (Newton's  and  Torbert's)  were  formed 
in  column  of  attack,  to  carry  the  wood  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
white  church  The  other  brigade  (Bartlett's)  had  been  ordered  by  General 
Sumner  to  keep  near  his  right.  As  this  brigade  was  to  form  the  reserve 
for  the  column  of  attack,  I  waited  until  it  came  up.  About  the  same  time 
Gen.  Sumner  arrived  on  the  spot,  and  directed  the  attack  to  be  postponed; 
and  the  enemy  at  once  proceeded  to  fill  the  woods  with  infantry,  and 
planted  a  battery  there,  which  opened  a  severe  fire  upon  us. 

Shortly  afterwards  the  commanding  general  came  to  the  position,  and 
decided  that  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  make  the  attack,  our  position  on 
the  right  being  considerably  in  advance  of  what  it  had  been  in  the  morn 
ing.  This  division  therefore  held  its  place  until  it  was  finally  removed, 


REPORTS   OF   FRANKLIN   AND    SLOCUM.  1 09 

on  the  igth.  On  two  occasions,  during  the  afternoon  of  the  I7th,  the  en 
emy  opened  upon  us  from  the  wood  with  artillery  fire.  In  each  case  their 
fire  was  soon  silenced,  and,  it  appeared  from  an  examination  of  the  ground 
afterward,  with  heavy  loss  of  artillery  and  men. 

In  this  position,  suffering  severe  cannonading  at  intervals,  which  they 
bore  like  the  veterans  they  are,  my  command  remained  without  change 
until  daylight  on  the  igth,  when  a  general  advance  was  made  by  the  pick 
ets,  under  orders  from  headquarters.  This  advance  revealed  the  fact  that 
the  enemy  had  retreated  during  the  night. 

The  batteries  of  the  corps,  under  command  of  Capt.  Ayres  and  Lieut. 
Upton  were  splendidly  served,  and  did  excellent  execution. 

******* 
My  staff  were  very  efficient,  and   behaved  well.     Without  any  previous 
knowledge  of  the  field,  and  with  a  large  extent  of  ground  covered  by  my 
command,  its  duties  were  arduous  in  the  extreme.       * 
I   am,    General,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.   B.   FRANKLIN, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 


Report  of  Major- General  Henry  W.  Slocum,  U.  S.  Army,  Command 
ing  First  Division,  of  the   Battle  of  Antietam. 

HDO.RS.  FIRST  DIVISION  SIXTH  CORPS, 
CAMP  NEAR  BAKERSVILLE,  September  26,  1862. 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  I7th 
instant,  the  division  under  my  command  left  Crampton's  Pass  to  join  the 
main  army,  then  already  engaged  with  the  enemy,  near  Sharpsburg.  We 
reached  the  battlefield  ahout  12  M.,  and  immediately  took  position  in  front 
of  the  white  church,  on  the  Hagerstown  and  Sharpsburg  turnpike,  reliev 
ing  a  part  of  Gen.  Sumner's  corps.  Our  infantry,  though  not  actively  en 
gaged,  were  exposed  to  a  heavy  artillery  fire  from  the  enemy  until  sun 
down,  and  are  entitled  to  great  credit  for  their  gallantry  under  a  severe 
fire,  which  they  were  unable  to  return.  The  artillery  of  the  division,  un 
der  command  of  First  Lieut.  Emory  Upton,  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery,  was  well 
served,  and  did  good  execution.  The  batteries  of  Capt.  Hexamer,  First 
New  Jersey  Volunteer  Artillery;  Capt.  Wolcott,  First  Maryland  Volunteer 
Artillery  ;  and  Lieut.  Williston,  Battery  D,  Second  U.  S.  Artillery,  were 


I  10      RECORD  OF  2;TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

all  engaged,  and  their  fire  proved  very  accurate  and  effective,  twice  silenc 
ing  the  enemy's  guns,  and  holding  in  check  a  large  force  of  his  infantry. 
The  officers  and  men  of  the  division  lay  or  rested  upon  their  arms  in  line 
of  battle  for  over  forty  hours,  without  leaving  their  position,  and  deserve 
great  credit  for  their  fortitude  displayed  on  that  occasion. 

I  append  a  list  of  casualties,  showing  a  loss  of  5  men  killed,  2  officers 
and  56  men  wounded,  and  2  men  missing  ;  making  a  total  loss  of  65. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  W.   SLOCUM, 
Major-General  Volunteers,   Commanding. 

On  October  22d  our  knapsacks  that  were  sent  off  at 
Harrison's  Landing,  on  the  nth  of  August,  were  returned 
to  us,  many  of  them  having  been  pillaged  of  their  valu 
ables. 

October  3ist  we  were  called  at  3  A.  M.,  and  after  making 
coffee,  fell  in  line  and  started  on  the  march,  taking  the 
road  to  the  left  of  Antietam,  through  Keedysville,  and 
after  a  pleasant  march  of  about  ten  miles,  we  camped  near 
Crampton's  Pass,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  mountain 
from  where  the  fight  took  place. 

September  I4th  we  crossed  the  mountain,  passing  over 
the  battle-field  and  to  the  right  of  Burketsville,  where  we 
halted  a  few  minutes  ;  and  while  here  several  of  our 
wounded  that  were  left  at  the  village  on  the  day  of  the 
fight  came  to  see  us.  We  continued  our  march  through 
Maryland  two  days  more,  then  crossed  the  Potomac  on  a 
pontoon  bridge  at  Berlin.  This  brought  us  into  London 
county,  Va.,  and  our  march  is  to  continue  up  London  Val 
ley,  which  is  a  continuation  of  Pleasant  Valley  in  Mary 
land.  Every  day  there  was  more  or  less  cannonading  in 
front,  as  our  troops  came  up  with  the  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy. 

November  4th  the  regiment  was  rear  guard,  and  while 
waiting  for  the  lines  to  pass  us,  a  vote  was  taken  to  see 
how  the  men  stood  for  Governor  of  New  York.  Wads- 
worth  received  twenty-three  majority  in  the  regiment, 
Company  "  D  "  giving  only  one  vote  against  him. 


GENERAL   M'CLELLAN    REMOVED,  til 

The  6th  and  /th  we  stayed  in  camp  at  White  Plains,  on 
account  of  a  severe  snow  storm.  The  next  day  we  came 
to  Thoroughfare  Gap,  when  the  officers,  seeing  smoke  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  mountain,  thought  it  came  from  the 
camp  of  the  enemy.  A  battery  was  hastily  put  in  position, 
our  lines  of  battle  formed  and  skirmishers  sent  to  the  front, 
who  soon  returned  and  reported  that  Gen.  Siegel  was  on 
the  other  side  with  some  twelve  thousand  men.  We  con 
tinued  our  line  of  march  and. at  night  camped  at  New 
Baltimore.  The  next  day,  the  loth,  Gen.  McClellan,  hav 
ing  been  removed  from  the  command,  rode  through  the 
camp,  taking  leave  of  the  army.  He  was  accompanied  by 
General  Burnside,  who  assumes  command.  The  men  were 
wild  with  excitement.  They  threw  their  hats  into,  the 
air  and  cheered  their  old  commander  as  long  as  his  es 
cort  was  in  sight.  The  rank  and  file  are  very  much  dis 
satisfied  with  his  removal,  as  the  soldiers  have  always  idol 
ized  him.  The  next  day  one  soldier  writes  in  his  diary  : 
"  Here  we  are  still  in  this  miserable  old  camp.  There  is 
much  excitement  among  the  men.  We  are  growing  uneasy 
as  dogs,  and  hardly  know  how  to  content  ourselves,  on 
account  of  the  change  in  commanders.  The  troops  are  all 
discouraged  and  don't  care  whether  the  Union  is  saved  or 
not."  The  soldiers  at  this  time  did  not  realize  what  Gen. 
McClellan  might  have  done  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  by 
following  up  the  enemy  more  rapidly. 

The  following  is  the  order  relieving  Gen.  McClellan : 

WASHINGTON,  Nov.  5,'  1862. 

By  direction  of  the   President  of  the   United   States,  it  is  ordered  that 
Major-Gen.  McClellan  be  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  that  Major-Gen.  Burnside  take  command  of  that  army. 
By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.    D.  TOWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutan.t-General. 


112  RECORD   OB'   2/TH    REGIMENT    N.  Y.  VOLS. 

McClellan's    Farewell  Address. 

HDQRS.  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 

CAMP  NEAR    RECTORTOWN,  Va.,  Nov.  7,  1862.  ^ 
Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  : 

An  order  of  the  President  devolves  upon  Major-Gen.  Burnside  the 
command  of  this  army.  In  parting  from  you,  I  cannot  express  the  love 
and  gratitude  I  bear  to  you.  As  an  army,  you  have  grown  up  under 
my  care.  In  you  I  have  never  found  doubt  or  coldness.  The  battles  you 
have  fought  under  my  command,  will  proudly  live  in  our  nation's  history. 
The  glory  you  have  achieved,  our  mutual  perils  and  fatigues,  the  graves 
of  our  comrades  fallen  in  battle  and  by  disease,  the  broken  forms  of 
those  whom  wounds  and  sickness  have  disabled — the  strongest  associa 
tions  which  can  exist  among  men — unite  us  still  by  an  indissoluble  tie. 

We  shall  ever  be  comrades  in  supporting  the  constitution  of  our  coun 
try  and  the  nationality  of  its  people. 

GEO.   B.   McCLELLAN, 

Major-General   United  States  Army. 

Gen.  Burnside's  order  assuming  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  was  now  prepared,  and  read  as  follows : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
WARRENTOWN,  Va.,  Nov.  9,  1862.         ( 
General  Order  No.  i. 

In  accordance  with  General  Orders  No.  182,  issued  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  I  hereby  assume  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac; 
and  the  exercise  of  my  every  energy  in  the  direction  of  this  army,  aided 
by  the  full  and  hearty  co-operation  of  its  officers  and  men,  will,  I  hope, 
under  the  blessing  of  God,  ensure  its  success. 

Having  been  a  sharer  of  the  privations,  and  a  witness  of  the  bravery  of 
the  old  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  Maryland  campaign,  and  fully  iden 
tified  in  the  feelings  of  respect  and  esteem  for  Gen.  McClellan,  entertained 
through  a  long  and  most  friendly  association  with  him,  I  feel  that  it  is  not 
as  a  stranger  that  I  assume  this  command.  To  the  Ninth  Corps,  so  long 
and  intimately  associated  with  me,  I  need  say  nothing  :  our  histories  are 
identical.  With  diffidence  for  myself,  but  with  a  proud  confidence  in  the 
unswerving  loyalty  and  determination  of  the  gallant  army  now  entrusted 
to  my  care,  I  accept  its  control  with  the  steadfast  assurance  that  the  just 

cause  must  prevail. 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 

Major-General,  Commanding. 


GOOD    REASON   FOR   DISOBEYING   ORDERS.  113 

Burnside  halted  here  several  days  around  Warrenton> 
and  reorganized  the  army  upon  a  novel  plan.  The  six 
army  corps  were  consolidated  into  three  grand  divisions^ 
the  right,  center,  and  left,  respectively  commanded  by 
Gens.  Sumner,  Hooker,  and  Franklin.  The  Sixth  Corps 
now  formed  a  part  of  the  left  grand  division,  and  was  com 
manded  by  Gen.  W.  F.  ("  Baldy  ")  Smith.  The  first  divis 
ion,  to  which  our  regiment  had  always  been  attached,  was 
now  commanded  by  Gen.  Brooks,  a  stern  disciplinarian  and 
an  able  soldier,  Gen.  Slocum  having  succeeded  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Twelfth  Corps. 

On  this  march  the  matter  of  supplies  was  a  vital  one 
to  us.  The  supply  trains  were  often  delayed,  and  yet  the 
strictest  rules  had  been  issued  that  the  country  through 
which  the  army  passed  should  be  "  protected."  No  plun 
dering  was  allowed.  But  it  was  a  hard  thing  to  restrain 
hungry  men  from  occasionally  helping  themselves  to  any 
good  thing  they  could  find.  One  day  Corp.  -  — ,  of  Co. 
"  C."  walked  into  camp  and  directly  past  Gen.  Brooks' 
headquarters,  with  a  fine  sheep  swung  over  his  shoulders. 
The  General  halted  him  and  in  a  peremptory  voice  de 
manded  his  reasons  for  disobeying  orders.  "  General,"  said 
the  soldier,  "  No  sheep  must  try  to  bite  me.  If  it  does,  1 
shall  shoot  it,  orders  or  no  orders,"  and  immediately  walked 
on  to  his  tent.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  General  that 
day  had  mutton  chops  for  dinner. 

One  day,  Col.  —  — ,  of  our  brigade,  calling  his  orderly, 
asked:  "What's  that  I  smell  cooking?  Has  any  one 
killed  the  dog?"  "Oh,  no  sir;  it's  mutton  broth!" 
"How's  that?  Have  the  men  been  robbing  any  of  the 
farmers?"  "  No,  sir  ;  our  men  wouldn't  do  that."  "Then, 
where  did  the  mutton  come  from?"  "Well,  sir,  this 
morning  about  daybreak,  two  men  of  the  -  — th  regi 
ment  were  seen  carrying  a  sheep  toward  camp.  They 
seemed,  sir,  to  have  brought  it  some  distance.  Two  or 
three  of  our  boys  slipped  on  their  belts,  and,  taking  their 
muskets,  started  for  the  "  forgers,"  who  supposing,  they 
were  about  to  be  arrested  by  a  detail  of  the  provost  guard, 


1 14  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

dropped  the  sheep  and  ran.  Of  course,  sir,  the  boys 
couldn't  think  of  leaving  the  carcass  there,  and — and — 
we're  to  have  a  mess  of  mutton  broth  for  dinner." 

I  have  just  finished  my  dinner,  and  as  some  of  our  men 
could  not  forage,  I  would  like  all  to  know  what  a  good 
soldier's  dinner  is:  Recipe — Take  a  quart  cup  and  put  in 
one  spoonful  of  coffee,  one  spoonful  of  sugar,  fill  to  the 
brim  with  water  ;  put  it  over  a  fire  of  coals  and  boil;  this 
is  coffee.  2.  Take  a  frying-pan,  cut  three  slices  of  fat  pork, 
fry  to  a  crisp.  3.  Take  five  "  hard-tacks,"  soak  them  in 
cold  water  ten  minutes,  place  them  in  the  pan  with  your 
pork  ;  fry  ten  minutes.  Having  done  this,  your  dinner  is 
ready.  Then  sit  down  upon  the  ground  ;  take  your  knife 
(your  fingers  serve  as  a  fork)  and  eat  heartily.  This  is 
what  may  be  called  a  good  dinner,  a  cheap  one,  and  the 
recipe  should  be  carefully  preserved. 

Sunday,  November  i6th,  broke  camp,  and  started  on  the 
march  about  7  o'clock.  Passed  through  New  Baltimore 
and  Greenville,  then  turned  south  and  marched  through 
Catlett's  Station,  going  into  camp  two  miles  beyond.  The 
day's  march  was  fifteen  miles.  Here  the  little  gray  rabbits 
were  very  numerous ;  they  seemed  to  start  up  from  every 
bush.  The  men  knocked  them  over  with  sticks  and  stones, 
and  that  night  rabbit  pot-pie  was  the  favorite  dish  in  camp. 
On  this  march  I  congratulated  myself  on  having  confis 
cated  a  pillow-case  full  of  flour.  I  carried  it  on  my  shoul 
ders  nearly  two  miles,  when  one  of  the  battery  boys  offered 
to  relieve  me  by  carrying  it  to  camp  on  a  gun  carriage — and 
he  did  relieve  me  most  effectually,  for  I  have  never  seen  it 
since.  After  two  days  more  of  marching,  we  went  into 
camp  near  Stafford  Court  House,  where  we  remained  for 
some  time.  The  weather  was  cold  and  stormy,  and  as  we 
had  only  green  pine  for  fires,  the  men  were  soon  smoked  up, 
and  became  the  color  of  a  sugar-cured  ham. 

November  2/th  the  regiment  was  ordered  on  picket,  and 
after  a  long  march  they  formed  the  line  a  few  miles  from 
Aquia  Creek.  This  being  Thanksgiving  Day  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  the  boys  are  thinking  much  of  home.  This 


THANKSGIVING   DINNER.  115 

is  the  way  one  man  gives  his  experience,  in  his  diary,  next 
morning : 

"  Four  of  us  are  on  post  near  the  forks  of  a  road.  We 
are  not  allowed  to  have  any  fires  on  the  post  at  night,  and 
the  boys  complain  bitterly  of  the  cold.  We  built  us  a 
shanty  of  brush  and  got  some  hay  and  made  a  comfortable 
bed.  It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  as  I  passed  up 
and  down  my  lonely  beat,  I  had  pleasant  thoughts  of 
home  and  often  wished  I  could  have  a  share  of  the  good 
things  from  the  home  Thanksgiving  table  ;  for  our  rations 
were  very  short  and  I  had  only  a  small  piece  of  boiled 
beef,  with  coffee  and  crackers,  and  a  lot  of  ripe  persim 
mons,  which  are  very  plentiful  in  this  section.  But  war 
will  have  an  end,  and  we  will  return  and  join  our  loved  ones, 
and  share  of  the  good  things  there." 

The  men  on  reserve,  however,  fared  much  better.  They 
foraged  about  the  country  and  had  a  good  supply  of  chick 
en,  bread,  eggs,  milk  and  sweet  potatoes. 

Returned  from  picket  duty  on  the  2Qth,  and  remained  in 
this  camp  until  December  4th.  While  in  camp  at  Stafford 
Court  House,  one  of  the  hospital  tents  took  fire  and  one 
patient  was  suffocated.  There  was  one  case  of  small-pox 
while  in  this  camp.  The  patient  was  quarantined  in  a  small 
tent  at  some  distance  from  the  camp. 

We  marched  at  daylight  on  the  above  date — a  long 
march — and  camped  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  where  the  wind 
was  piercingly  cold.  We  gathered  some  dried  grass  and 
made  as  comfortable  beds  as  possible.  The  next  morn 
ing  we  removed  our  tents  and  put  them  in  a  piece  of  woods 
where  it  was  more  sheltered,  and  made  ourselves  quite 
comfortable.  It  began  to  rain  about  9  o'clock,  and  we  did 
not  expect  to  move  ;  but  about  noon  orders  came  to  pack 
up,  and  we  started  back  towards  Belle  Plain,  a  place  that 
we  passed  yesterday.  We  had  a  very  hard  march  of  four 
miles.  The  rain  had  turned  to  snow  ;  it  was  very  muddy 
and  very  cold,  and  proved  to  be  the  most  disagreeable 
march  we  had  ever  had.  They  led  us  out  on  the  open 
plain  near  the  river,  where  we  stacked  arms,  just  at  dark. 


Il6  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

The  snow  and  mud  were  several  inches  deep.  The  cold 
wind  swept  over  the  plain.  There  was  no  wood  for  fires 
and  no  place  to  lie  down.  Being  thoroughly  soaked,  the 
men  could  not  stand  it ;  so  we  left  the  plains  and  went 
into  the  woods  on  the  heights,  about  a  mile  back  from  the 
river.  Here  we  built  huge  fires  and  remained  all  night, 
drying  our  clothes  and  blankets,  and  getting  but  little 
sleep.  The  weather  cleared  about  midnight,  and  there  was 
an  eclipse  of  the  moon  that  attracted  a  great  deal  of  atten 
tion. 

The  next  morning  we  returned  to  the  plain,  took  our 
arms,  and  went  into  an  old  camp  near  the  landing.  It 
seems  that  our  brigade  had  been  detailed  and  sent  here  to 
guard  the  landing  and  unload  boats. 

The  following  day,  December  7th,  was  the  coldest  day 
we  had  ever  experienced  in  Virginia.  Ice  formed  in  the 
Potomac  so  that  the  boats  had  great  difficulty  in  landing, 
and  some  of  the  men  crossed  the  river  on  the  ice.  Many 
took  to  the  woods  again,  and  spent  their  Sunday  around 
the  fires,  having  suffered  very  much  from  cold  and  hunger. 
To  this  day  the  men  well  remember  their  experience  at 
Belle  Plain.  One  soldier,  writing  to  a  comrade  recently, 
says :  "  Whenever  I  hear  the  wind  blowing  on  some  cold 
and  snowy  day  or  night,  I  shudder  and  think  of  Belle 
Plain." 

On  fatigue  duty,  unloading  boats,  during  the  8th  and  9th. 
The  sutler  arrived  on  the  Qth,  and  put  up  a  big  tent,  well 
stocked  with  goods,  but  refused  to  sell  to  the  men  except 
for  cash,  and  at  exorbitant  prices.  That  night  some  of 
the  men  made  a  charge  upon  the  establishment,  tore  down 
the  tent,  and  seized  the  goods.  Some  had  an  armful  of  to 
bacco  ;  others,  fine-tooth  combs  ;  some,  boxes  of  sardines, 
buckskin  gloves,  and  the  various  articles  usually  kept  on 
sale.  It  took  half  the  night  to  swap  round,  and  get  things 
evenly  divided. 

The  next  morning  we  were  made  glad  by  orders  to  march 
and  join  the  division.  We  started  at  8  o'clock,  and  while 
on  the  march,  all  along  the  line,  men  were  shouting,  "  Who'll 


FIRST   BATTLE   OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  I  17 

swap  a  right  for  a  left  ?"  and  vice  versa.  When  they  ob 
tained  these  gloves  from  the  sutler  the  night  before,  time 
was  too  pressing  to  notice  whether  all  had  mates  or  not. 
After  marching  five  miles  we  went  into  camp,  at  White 
Oak  Church. 

The  roll  of  the  drum  summoned  the  men  in  line  at  5  A.M., 
on  the  morning  of  December  i  ith,  1862.  At  about  8  o'clock 
we  left  our  camp  at  White  Oak  Church,  taking  up  the  line 
of  march  towards  the  river.  Cannonading  commenced  in 
the  direction  of  Fredericksburg  very  early,  and  continued 
very  rapidly  all  day.  About  noon  we  reached  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  a  short  distance  below  Fredericksburg,  and  from 
our  position  on  the  bluffs,  bordering  the  valley,  we  had  a 
fine  view  of  Fredericksburg  and  the  fortified  hills  in  rear. 
It  was  a  beautiful  day, — a  warm  sunshine  and  smoky  atmo 
sphere  reminding  one  of  a  Northern  Indian  summer.  Be 
low,  on  the  river,  the  engineers  brigade  was  engaged  laying 
the  pontoon  bridges,  subject  to  the  annoying  fire  of  the 
enemy's  sharp-shooters,  who  were  plainly  seen  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river. 

We  were  marched  down  to  a  level  plain  near  the  bank  of 
the  river,  when  suddenly  all  the  batteries,  which  had  been 
stationed  on  high  ground  a  little  back  from  the  river,  opened 
fire  and  sent  a  continuous  stream  of  shells  over  our  heads, 
across  the  river,  into  the  city,  and  over  the  plain  below. 
Sixty  shells  a  minute  went  whizzing  through  the  air,  and 
crashing  through  buildings,  while  the  earth  fairly  shook  be 
neath  the  terrific  cannonade.  The  scene  was  one  of  awful 
grandeur.  A  dark  column  of  smoke  rose  heavenward  from 
the  doomed  city,  showing  that  the  explosives  were  doing 
effective  work.  The  bombardment  continued  about  an 
hour,  when  the  pontoon  bridges  in  our  front  were  com 
pleted,  and  we  were  ordered  to  advance.  Above,  opposite 
the  city,  the  bridges  could  not  be  completed  till  the  troops 
had  crossed  over  in  boats,  and  driven  the  sharp-shooters  out 
of  the  houses.  This  was  done  in  a  most  gallant  manner  by 
the  SQth  New  York,  the  iQth  and  2Oth  Massachusetts,  and 
the  /th  Michigan. 


Il8  RECORD   OF  2;TH    REGIMENT  N.  V.  VOI.S. 

Just  at  dark  the  2/th  crossed  the  river,  following  a  Rhode 
Island  regiment  that  moved  off  to  the  right,  while  our  regi 
ment  moved  obliquely  to  the  left,  and  advanced  with  the 
steadiness  of  a  dress  parade,  about  a  mile,  when  we  found 
ourselves  close  up  to  the  enemy's  lines  ;  and  we  could  sec- 
through  the  darkness  the  outlines  of  moving  forms.  The 
men  all  along  the  line  wondered  at  the  mysterious  move 
ment,  sending  a  regiment  squarely  up  to  the  rebel  line, 
with  no  troops  to  support  us,  and  a  river  between  us  and 
our  army.  A  halt  was  made  and  the  men  lay  down,  but 
soon  a  retreat  was  ordered,  in  a  whisper,  and  the  regiment 
marched  back  to  the  river  in  good  order,  recrossed  the 
bridge  and  went  into  camp  for  the  night. 

While  all  this  was  going  on,  the  men  of  the  8Qth  New 
York  and  other  troops  were  holding  high  carnival  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  city.  Houses  were  entered  and  articles  of 
food  seized.  Bacon  and  eggs  were  plenty.  The  soldiers 
were  determined  to  enjoy  one  square  meal.  They  baked 
hot  cakes  in  the  kitchen  and  ate  them  with  sugar  and  mo 
lasses.  Mattresses  and  beds  were  carried  into  the  streets 
and  laid  upon  the  sidewalks  for  a  place  to  rest.  Some 
dressed  themselves  in  the  old-fashioned  clothes  found  in 
the  houses,  and  sang  to  the  music  of  pianos  that  were  also 
taken  into  the  street.  A  citizen  of  Fredericksburg  remarked 
after  the  war,  that  he  believed  "  a  Yankee  could  eat,  drink, 
and  lie  down  to  sleep  in  the  very  jaws  of  death  ;  for,"  said  he, 
"on  that  eventful  night  when  the  Confederates  were  still  in 
the  city,  the  Union  soldiers  acted  as  though  there  was  no 
one  to  fight  north  of  Richmond.  Why,"  he  added,  "it 
was  the  biggest  jamboree  Fredericksburg  ever  saw  !"  In 
deed  it  was  a  first-class  "jamboree,"  from  the  time  Burn- 
side  opened  on  the  town  with  his  artillery. 

December  I2th  we  were  called  at  4  A.  M.,  and  at  8  o'clock 
the  troops  began  to  cross  the  river.  Soon  after,  our  regi 
ment  fell  in  and  marched  over,  taking  position  first  on  the 
right,  then  on  the  left,  and  finally  moving  to  the  center  of 
the  line,  advanced  about  a  mile.  A  dense  fog  shielded  our 
movements  from  the  enemy,  who  were  posted  on  a  range 


STORMING  MARY'S  HEIGHTS. 


119 


of  hills  in  the  form  of  a  half  circle,  reaching  from  above 
Fredericksburg  southeast,  some  four  miles,  while  we  were 
on  a  level  plain,  extending  from  the  river  some  two  miles, 
to  the  foot  of  the  hills.  About  9  o'clock  the  fog  lifted,  and 
the  enemy  opened  on  us  with  their  batteries  from  the  for 
tified  heights  in  our  front.  We  were  ordered  to  take  shelter 
in  a  ravine,  which  protected  us  from  their  fire.  They  con 
tinued  to  shell  us  for  about  an  hour,  many  of  the  shells 
bursting  right  over  us,  and  our  batteries  occasionally  reply 
ing.  At  last  all  became  quiet,  and  as  the  ravine  furnished 
us  wood  and  water,  we  made  ourselves  comfortable,  and 
leisurely  cooked  our  dinner. 

At  3  P.  M.  the  enemy  opened  on  us  again,  and  this  time 
fired  pieces  of  railroad  iron,  about  two  feet  long,  which 
went  over  our  heads,  burying  themselves  in  the  opposite 
bank,  doing  us  no  harm,  but  making  a  horrible  noise. 
Whenever  the  discharge  of  a  cannon  in  the  fort  was  seen, 
the  men  would  cry  out,  "  Lie  down  !  another  blacksmith 
shop  is  coming!" 

Brisk  firing  now  commenced  on  our  right, — first  cannon 
ading,  then  musketry.  It  was  our  troops  charging  the 
heights  back  of  Fredericksburg,  and,  although  we  could  not 
see  them,  every  comrade  knew,  from  the  noise,  that  it  was 
desperate  fighting.  At  dark  all  became  quiet,  and  re 
mained  so  all  night,  but  it  was  so  cold  we  could  not  sleep. 
The  morning  of  the  I3th,  cold,  foggy  and  dark,  found  us 
still  in  the  ravine,  and  in  line  of  battle  before  daylight  ; 
and,  as  one  soldier  writes :  "  We  expect  to  try  our  hand  to 
day.  God  grant  to  give  us  success,  and  take  me  to  Him 
self,  if  I  am  killed.  I  will  trust  in  Him,  and  not  fear  what 
man  can  do  unto  me  ;  and  will  try  and  do  my  duty,  and 
fight  worthy  the  cause  we  are  defending."  But  no  orders 
to  march  were  received,  and  after  standing  under  arms  for 
an  hour,  we  were  dismissed,  and  allowed  to  cook  our  break 
fast.  About  noon  our  batteries  on  the  right  began  to  shell 
the  heights,  whfch  brought  on  an  artillery  duel,  that  was 
kept  up  at  intervals  all  day.  There  was  also  heavy  mus 
ketry  firing  at  intervals  on  our  left,  and  also  on  the  right ; 


CAPT.  H.  SEYMOUR  PIERCE,  Co.  "  G, 


RECROSSING   THE    RAPPAHANNOCK.  121 

but  the  only  engagement  in  our  front  was  an  advance  just 
at  dark  by  the  First  Jersey  brigade,  who  carried  two  lines 
of  the  enemy's  works,  but  could  not  hold  them,  and  were 
driven  back  with  heavy  loss.  After  this,  all  became  quiet, 
and  we  stacked  arms  for  the  night. 

Sunday,  December  I4th,  there  was  more  or  less  picket 
firing  all  night,  so  we  got  but  little  rest.  The  enemy 
opened  the  ball  a  little  to  the  left  of  our  position,  and  soon 
after  the  firing  became  fast  and  furious  on  the  right.  Our 
men  were  making  another  desperate  effort  to  carry  the  for 
tified  heights  back  of  Fredericksburg.  Twice  they  reached 
the  outer  works,  but  with  numbers  so  reduced  that  they 
could  not  carry  the  works,  and  had  to  retreat.  About  8 
o'clock  we  were  sent  to  the  front  to  relieve  the  8th  Jersey 
regiment  on  picket,  and  were  ordered  close  up  to  the  ene 
my's  works,  where  we  lay  down  and  were  partially  pro 
tected  by  a  slight  rise  in  the  ground,  and  further  protected 
by  our  knapsacks,  which  every  man  set  up  before  him. 
Every  head  that  came  up  above  their  line  of  works  would 
receive  a  volley,  and  they  would  answer  us  with  one  in 
return.  Picket  firing  was  kept  up  most  of  the  day  and 
numbers  were  killed  on  both  sides,  but  none  of  our  regi 
ment  were  hurt.  The  rebels  finally  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce, 
asking  for  time  to  bury  their  dead,  and  picket  firing  ceased. 
Some  of  our  boys  went  over  and  shook  hands  with  the 
rebels.  One  deserter  gave  himself  up  to  our  regiment. 
The  weather  was  very  fine  and  we  passed  a  comfortable 
night,  but  were  not  allowed  to  sleep.  Just  before  daylight 
on  Monday,  the  I5th,  we  were  relieved  by  the  g6th  Penn 
sylvania,  when  we  moved  back  to  the  ravine  and  cooked 
our  breakfast.  Here  we  remained  quiet  all  day.  There 
was  but  little  firing  anywhere  along  the  lines,  and  at  night 
we  prepared  for  a  good  rest,  but  at  midnight  orders  came 
to  move,  and  we  marched  back  and  crossed  the  river. 

It  was  now  evident  that  our  army  had  been  defeated 
again.  The  whole  army  was  safely  withdrawn  across  the 
river  during  the  night.  All  were  much  discouraged  and 
disheartened.  We  had  learned  nothing  definite  of  our  loss, 


122  RECORD   OF   2fTl-I    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

but  imagined  that  it  was  very  great,  and  began  to  fear  that 
wo  should  never  conquer  the  rebels.  Our  regiment  went 
into  camp  on  a  side-hill  a  little  back  from  the  stream,  and 
we  lay  down  to  rest.  Soon  it  commenced  raining  hard 
and  continued  so  till  morning,  when  we  arose,  wet,  hungry, 
and  tired,  but  thankful  that  our  lives  were  spared  and  that 
we  were  not  wounded. 

Soon  after  daylight  on  the  i6th,  the  enemy  having  got 
a  battery  in  position,  began  to  shell  our  camp,  as  a  parting 
salute.  This  caused  us  to  pack  up  lively  and  move  back 
out  of  range,  where  we  put  up  our  tents  and  had  a  good 
day's  rest.  Thus  ended  the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
under  Burnside,  that  for  courage,  bravery,  and  reckless  sac 
rifice  of  life  had  not  been  equaled  in  any  battle  of  the  war. 
After  dark  we  were  ordered  to  go  on  picket  on  the  bank  of 
the  river,  where  we  relieved  the  2d  Pennsylvania  Reserves, 
who  cautioned  us  not  to  show  ourselves,  as  the  enemy 
would  pick  off  any  one  at  whom  they  could  get  a  shot.  The 
night  was  very  cold,  and  even  the  reserves  could  not  sleep. 

At  daylight  we  found  the  enemy's  pickets  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  and  could  see  that  they  were  carefully 
watching  us  After  a  while  one  of  our  men,  without  ex 
posing  himself,  called  out,  "  Hello,  Johnnie!"  The  answer 
came  back,  "  Hello,  Yank!"  "Say,  Johnnie,  we  won't  fire 
if  you  won't  !"  "  All  right  ;  we  won't  fire  unless  the  officer 
of  the  day  comes  and  orders  us  to,  and  then  we  will  fire 
high  until  you  get  under  cover." 

Taking  them  at  their  word,  we  stepped  from  behind  our 
shelter,  when  they  did  the  same  ;  and  we  all  walked  down 
close  to  the  shore,  where  the  river  was  not  more  than  four 
or  five  rods  wide,  and  opened  conversation  with  the  4<  John 
nies."  We  found  some  of  them  were  the  Texans,  whom 
we  had  fought  at  West  Point  and  Games'  Mill ;  and  others 
of  the  4th  Alabama,  whom  we  had  already  met  four  times 
in  battle.  We  invited  them  to  come  across  the  river,  and 
have  a  social  time,  with  the  promise  that  they  should  return 
without  hindrance  from  us.  Soon  a  boat  was  found,  and 
pushed  off  from  the  other  side,  filled  with  Texans.  On 


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BATTLE  OF   FREDERICKSBURG. 


MAJOR-GEN.  W.  B.  FRANKLIN. 


124  RECORD   OF   2JTII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

reaching  our  side  of  the  river,  we  cordially  shook  them  by 
the  hand,  and  while  some  entertained  them,  others  of  our 
men  took  the  boat  and  crossed  over  to  the  rebel  side,  where 
they  met  with  just  as  friendly  a  reception. 

We  could  treat  them  to  coffee,  and  they  in  turn  gave  us 
tobacco.  The  boat  went  back  and  forth  all  day.  We  had 
found  them  brave  men  in  battle,  and  now  found  them  to 
be  more  intelligent  than  the  ordinary  Southern  soldier. 
The  men  traded  knives,  pipes,  rings  and  other  trinkets,  and 
wrote  down  each  other's  names,  with  a  promise  that  if 
either  were  taken  prisoner,  the  other  should  do  all  he  could 
for  the  captive's  comfort ;  and  before  the  war  closed,  there 
were  several  instances  where  the  promise  made  that  day 
was  faithfully  carried  out.  Others  said,  that  if  we  ever  met 
in  action  again,  to  cry  out  our  number,  "  27th  New  York," 
and  they  would  not  fire  on  us. 

Just  before  dark  we  parted,  after  a  general  hand-shaking> 
and  each  one  betook  himself  to  his  own  side  of  the  river, 
ready  to  shoot  at  the  word  of  command.  Soon  after  dark 
we  were  relieved  from  picket,  and  moved  baclrto  our  camp 
in  the  woods,  where  we  remained  till  the  iQth,  when  we 
broke  camp,  and  marched  back  near  White  Oak  Church, 
where  we  were  very  glad  to  take  a  rest,  having  been  under 
fire  for  six  days. 

The  loss  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  very 
severe.  Official  returns  stated  it  to  be  as  follows  :  Gen. 
Hooker,  3,548;  Gen.  Franklin,  4,679  (of  which  1,531  were 
prisoners) ;  Gen.  Sumner,  5,494  ;  Engineers,  50  ;  the  total 
amounting  to  13,771.  The  enemy's  loss  was  said  to  be  only 
half  that  number.  The  Confederate  position  was  strongly 
intrenched  from  right  to  left  and  lavishly  supplied  with 
artillery,  while  our  own  field  batteries  were  worked  at  a 
great  disadvantage. 

Gen.  Burnside  in  his  official  dispatch  to  Major-Gen-  Hal- 
leek,  said  :  "  For  the  failure  in  the  attack  I  am  responsible, 
as  the  extreme  gallantry,  courage  and  endurance  shown  by 
them  (the  officers  and  soldiers)  were  never  exceeded  and 
would  have  carried  the  points  had  it  been  possible.  To  the 


OUR    PLACE    IN   THE   ARMY.  125 

families  and  friends  of  the  dead  I  can  only  offer  my  heart 
felt  sympathy  ;  but  for  the  wounded  I  can  offer  my  earnest 
prayers  for  their  comfortable  and  final  recovery." 


ROSTER   OK 
SIXXH     ARMY    CORPS. 

DECEMBER   13,   1862. 


Right  of  the  Left  Grand  Division.  -—  Major-Gen.  W.  B. 
FRANKLIN,  commanding. 

Sixth  Corps. — Major-Gen.  W.  F.  SMITH,  commanding. 

FIRST    DIVISION. 
Brigadier-Gen.  W.  T.  H.  BROOKS,  commanding. 

First  Brigade. — Col.  A.  T.  A.  TORBERT,  commanding 
1st,  2d,  3d,  4th,  i  5th  and  23d  New  Jersey  Volunteers. 

Second  Brigade. — Brigadier-Gen.  J.  J.  BARTLETT,  com 
manding  2/th,  1 6th,  1 2 ist.  New  York,  5th  Maine  and  Q6th 
Pennsylvania. 

Third  Brigade. — Col.  G.  W.  TOWNE,  commanding  i8th, 
3 ist  and  32d  New  York  and  95th  Pennsylvania. 

ARTILLERY. 

Williston's  D,  2d  United  States;  McCartney's  A,  ist  Mas 
sachusetts;  Hexamer's  A,  ist  New  Jersey;  Woolcott's  A, 
ist  Maryland. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 

Brigadier-Gen.  A.  P.  HOWE,  commanding. 

THIRD    DIVISION. 

Brigadier-Gen.  JOHN  NEWTON,  commanding. 


CAPT.  H.  C.  ROGERS,  Co.  "  D." 

(Assistant  Adjutant-General,  on  the  Staff  of  Gen.  Slocum.) 


V. 

DECEMBER  20th  the  paymaster  came,  and  the  men 
received  four  months'  pay,  $52.00.  This  was  followed 
by  the  usual  amount  of  excesses  on  the  part  of  some  of 
the  men  ;  but,  we  are  glad  to  say,  the  2/th  had  as  few  men 
who  indulged  in  the  ordinary  camp  vices  as  any  regiment 
in  the  department. 

Soon  after  camping  at  White  Oak  Church  we  received 
orders  to  make  ourselves  comfortable  for  the  winter,  as  here 
would  be  our  winter  quarters.  The  weather  continued  quite 
cold,  and  there  was  little  camp  duty  besides  inspection,  till 
the  25th,  when  we  had  a  mild,  pleasant  Christmas,  and 
cabin  building  became  the  great  industry  of  our  camp.  A 
ration  of  whiskey  was  served  to  the  men  this  morning,  and 
some  of  them  became  "  ga-loriously  "  happy. 

Christmas  was  a  lively  day  in  camp.  Most  of  the  men 
spent  the  day  industriously  working  on  their  cabins,  with 
little  to  eat,  while  others  were  casting  about  for  materials 
for  a  Christmas  dinner.  Foraging  was  out  of  the  question, 
for  there  were  too  many  iroops  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
the  country  had  been  thoroughly  scoured.  So  we  had  to 
depend  entirely  upon  the  commissary  and  the  sutler  for 
the  wherewithal.  Some  pooled  their  rations,  and  had  a 
family  dinner  in  one  of  the  tents.  Happy  was  the  squad 
whose  culinary  department  could  show  a  frying-pan,  and  a 
quart  tin  cup  for  boiling  coffee.  But  it  was  a  dark  day  that 
did  not  show  some  pleasure,  and  many  a  soldier  can  look 
back  to  that  Christmas  dinner  in  camp  and  say  that  he  had 


T28  RECORD   OF   2?TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

more  rollicking  fun  and  a  greater  amount  of  hearty  enjoy 
ment  with  half  a  dozen  companions  curled  up  in  the  cor 
ner  of  his  little  tent,  than  now,  even  when  seated  beside  a 
well  filled  table  and  surrounded  by  friends.  Then  fancy 
free,  with  few  ties  to  bind  him  to  life,  he  was  determined  to 
extract  all  the  pleasure  possible  out  of  existence  as  he  went 
through  it. 

So  there  was  much  sunshine  even  in  a  soldier's  life.  Our 
cabins  were  usually  built  large  enough  for  two,  and  were 
partly  in  and  partly  above  ground.  The  Virginia  red  clay 
Was  good  ground  on  which  to  build.  First  we  would  dig  a 
hole  about  two  feet  deep  and  six  feet  square  ;  then  build 
walls  of  small  pine  logs,  from  four  to  six  inches  in  diame 
ter,  laid  up  "  cob-house  "  tashion,  two  or  three  feet  high 
and  resting  on  the  edge  of  the  cellar  already  dug.  These 
were  covered  with  shelter  tents  that  let  in  plenty  of  light, 
and  the  logs  were  banked  and  plastered  with  clay,  which 
made  them  wind  proof.  A  fire-place  was  made  by  digging 
a  recess  two  feet  square  into  the  clay  on  one  side,  and 
above  this  a  chimney  was  made  with  split  sticks  that  ex 
tended  above  the  top  of  the  tent  and  were  well  plastered 
inside  and  out  with  the  tough  Virginia  clay,  which  was  a 
good  substitute  for  mortar.  Our  bed  was  just  high  enough 
from  the  ground  to  make  a  comfortable  seat  in  front  of  the 
fire-place,  as  it  took  up  about  two-thirds  of  the  cabin.  It 
was  made  of  poles  or  pieces  split  thin  enough  to  make  a 
good  spring  bottom.  On  these  were  placed  cedar  boughs  ; 
or,  when  they  could  be  had,  gunny-bags,  filled  with  straw, 
made  more  comfortable  beds.  Knapsacks,  overcoats  or 
boots  were  used  for  pillows,  and  our  two  blankets  made  the 
covering. 

Our  cabins  completed,  the  men  turned  in  and  built  com 
fortable  log  houses  for  the  officers'  quarters. 

We  remained  quietly  in  this  camp  several  weeks,  with 
nothing  to  disturb  the  monotony  of  camp  life.  There  was 
the  usual  routine  of  drill,  reviews  and  inspection,  with  an 
occasional  tour  of  two  or  three  days  of  picket  duty.  The 
weather  was  cold,  and  snowy  much  of  the  time.  We  vis- 


THE   SOLDIER,   AS   A   COOK.  l2C) 

ited  our  friends  in  the  different  regiments  within  a  radius  of 
ten  miles  of  our  camp,  read  all  the  books  and  papers  we 
could  get,  gave  a  good  deal  of  thought  to  the  culinary  de 
partment,  and  having  got  tired  of  government  rations, 
we  bought  flour,  sugar  and  lard  of  the  commissary,  made 
crullers,  cakes  and  pies,  and  these,  helped  out  with  an  occa 
sional  box  from  home,  made  a  menu  that  home  folks  might 
envy.  Some  enterprising  comrades  turned  their  little  tents 
into  bakeries,  made  crullers  and  sold  them  to  the  men. 

The  annoyances  which  the  soldiers  were  sometimes  sub 
jected  to  in  the  way  of  bad  biscuit  or  unwholesome  meat 
were  the  means  of  developing  much  wit  and  linguistic 
sprightliness  that  otherwise  would  have  remained  dormant, 
and  tended  also  to  stimulate  culinary  ingenuity.  Some 
wag  would  declare  that  B.  C.,  on  the  cracker  boxes  at  this 
time,  denoted  that  the  hard-tack  was  made  before  the 
Christian  era,  and  kindred  jokes  abounded  at  the  expense 
of  salt  junk  and  desiccated  vegetables.  The  following  va 
riety  of  delectable  dishes,  all  made  from  government 
rations,  illustrate  the  culinary  ingenuity,  "  army  scouse," 
"  lumgullion,"  "dingbats,"  "flippers,"  "succotash,"  etc. 

The  story  went  the  rounds  of  the  camp  one  morning, 
that  Captain  -  — n,  late  the  night  before,  after  having 
imbibed  too  much  "  Commissary,"  blundered  without  cere 
mony  into  the  quarters  of  Captain  -  — s,  in  search,  as 
he  said,  "  of  something  sour — either  vinegar  or  pickles — as 
he  felt  very  sick !"  Captain  -  — s  answered  from  his 
bed,  "  that  he  had  no  pickles,  but  that  there  was  a  bottle 
of  horseradish  standing  on  the  Company  desk,  that  would 
answer  every  purpose."  The  bottle  was  found,  the  cork 
removed  with  some  difficulty,  and  a  large  spoonful  bolted 
down.  It  did  not  stay,  however!  and  the  victim  expressed 
the  opinion  that  it  must  have  become  spoiled  !  "  Oh,  no  !" 
replied  Captain  -  — s,  "  you  have  just  taken  the  top  of 
the  bottle  ;  dip  lower  down,  and  you  will  find  it  all  right !" 
A  second  dose  was  self-administered,  with  the  same  nause 
ating  effect, — when,  upon  examination,  the  boozy  captain 
found  that  he  had  swallowed  about  half  the  contents 


130  RECORD   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

of  a  bottle  of  4i  Hair  Pomatum  !"  Captain  -  — n,  now 
a  temperance  man,  is  always  ready  to  say,  "  Smoke  at  my 
expense  !"  whenever  the  word  horseradish  is  mentioned. 

The  most  enjoyable  part  of  our  time  was  that  spent  in 
writing  letters  to  "  the  girls  we  left  behind  us."  and  our  his 
tory  would  not  be  complete  without  quoting  some  of 
these : 

A  SOLDIER'S   LETTER. 

CAMP  OF  TIIK  271-11  REG'T  N.  Y.  VOLS.,          ) 
NEAR  WHITE  OAK  CHURCH,  VA.,  Dec.  29,  1862.    ( 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : — I  was  made  very  glad  this  afternoon  by  receiving 
your  welcome  letter.  Almost  the  only  comfort  we  have  to  cheer  a  sol 
dier's  life  is  receiving  letters  from  our  friends,  and  gladly  do  we  spend 
our  leisure  time  in  answering  them. 

And  now  let  me  begin  just  where  your  letter  found  me,  and  review  the 
last  few  weeks  of  our  campaign. 

1  was  sitting  in  my  little  tent  with  my  comrade,  each  of  us  doing  some 
mending,  when  the  letters  came.  You  know  our  shelter-tents  are  very 
small,  and  when  we  remain  in  camp  any  length  of  time  they  are  very  in 
convenient.  So  to  remedy  this,  we  build  up  a  pen  of  logs  and  pitch  the 
tent  on  top,  and  by  banking  up  the  eaith  around  and  building  a  fire-place 
in  one  side,  make  ourselves  a  comfortable  home.  In  such  an  one,  which 
we  spent  all  day  Christmas  in  building,  are  we  seated  to-night.  Christ 
mas  was  a  pleasant  but  not  a  very  merry  day  ;  for  the  scenes  through 
which  we  have  passed  during  the  last  two  weeks  have  so  depressed  our 
spirits  that  the  holidays  bring  but  little  cheer  to  us.  Our  repulse  at 
Fredericksburg,  followed  by  the  extreme  cold  weather  and  the  discom 
forts  attending,  of  course  gave  rise  to  a  great  deal  of  murmuring  among 
the  troops.  They  do  not  seem  to  blame  Burnside  so  much,  although  the 
attempt  to  cross  at  this  point  seemed  a  piece  of  the  greatest  folly,  and  had 
it  not  been  for  great  stupidity  on  the  part  of  our  enemies,  our  whole  army 
could  have  been  driven  into  the  river.  But  the  blame  rests  farther  back, 
upon  those  at  home  and  the  .Washington  authorities,  who  have  kept  up 
the  constant  cry,  "  Why  don't  the  army  move?"  and  so  have  forced  a  cam 
paign  unwelcome  and  impracticable.  They  could  not  be  satisfied  after 
removing  our  General.  He  was  the  only  one  that  has  realized  the  strength 
of  his  foe  and  shaped  his  plans  accordingly,  and  who  held  the  confidence 


A  SOLDIER'S  LETTER.  131 

of  his  men.  To-day  the  whole  army  is  praying  for  his  return,  and  may 
God  arrant  that  lie  may  come  back  to  us.  Not  until  this  is  dorie,  arid  the 
rewards  at  home  shall  cease  their  cry,  and.  as  you  say,  "shall  on  with  the 
garb  and  off  to  the  wars  themselves,"  may  we  look  for  success. 

Personally  I  am  not  at  all  discou/aged  at  our  late  repulse.  I  feel  that 
God  had  a  purpose  in  thus  humiliating  our  nation  ;  and  I  fear  that  we 
must  have  many  such  a  lesson  before  peace  is  established.  Something 
must  be  done  to  unite  our  people.  When  we  become  a  unit,  as  the  South 
is  to-day,  and  the  administration  adopts  a  different  policy,  then  shall  I 
look  for  success  to  our  arms. 

I  am  very  glad  that  you  agree  with  us  in  regard  to  Gen.  McClellan,  and 
your  letters  came  with  much  cheer  for  us  ;  for  of  all  my  correspondents, 
except  mother,  you  are  the  only  one  who  takes  the  same  view  of  affairs 
as  the  soldiers  do.  Most  of  my  friends  seem  to  rejoice  that  he  was 
removed,  and  seem  to  believe  the  absurd  falsehoods  that  are  circulated  by 
his  enemies,  but  they  will  yet  change  and  be  as  glad  as  we  to  see  him 
returned. 

Since  Christmas  the  weather  has  been  very  mild  and  warm,  and  this, 
together  with  the  short  rest,  has  raised  our  spirits  ;  the  gloom  is  fast  dis 
appearing,  and  by  New  Year's  I  think  the  army  will  be  itself  again.  Many 
are  hoping  that  we  shall  be  allowed  to  rest  the  remainder  of  the  winter,  as 
they  do  not  believe  in  a  winter  campaign.  I  hardly  think  we  shall  remain 
here  long,  and  I  am  ready  at  anytime  when  orders  come,  to  go  where  duty- 
calls.  I  have  firm  confidence  in  Him  who  has  ever  sustained  me,  and  my 
faith  shall  never  waver.  It  is  not  so  hard  as  you  seem  to  think  for  us  to 
live  on  faith.  Even  in  the  darkest  hours  I  find  the  greatest  comfort.  I 
thank  you  heartily  for  your  kind  sympathy,  for  it  is  this 

"That  cheers  the  soldier's  lonely  way, 
And  makes  him  to  his  lot  resigned." 

It  is  getting  late,  and  I  must  retire  to  rest  on  my  couch  made  of  cedar 
boughs  spread  upon  the  ground,  where  I  shall  sleep  as  sweetly  as  if  lying 
upon  a  bed  of  down.  So,  bidding  you  good  night  and  wishing  you  a 

Happy  New  Year,  I  remain 

Your  friend, 

P.  S.  December  3Oth. — This  morning  we  have  received  orders  to  be 
ready  to  move  in  twelve  hours,  with  three  days'  rations  and  sixty  rounds 
of  cartridges.  Where  we  are  to  go,  we  cannot  tell.  It  is  a  dark  time  in 
our  country's  history.  God  grant  that  the  clouds  may  soon  be  raised. 


132  RECORD    OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Jan.  i,  1863. — To-day  the  army  and  the  nation  arc 
thrilled  by  the  advent  of  the  "  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMA 
TION."  Every  contraband  who  might  be  waiting  upon  an 
officer's  mess,  or  cleaning  an  officer's  horse,  every  colored 
servant,  every  African  mule-driver,  on  this  1st  of  January, 
1863,  becomes  at  once  as  completely  a  new  object  of  inter 
est  to  the  average  soldier  as  if  the  black  man  had  just 
dropped  from  the  clouds  before  his  startled  eyes.  There 
are  various  shades  of  sentiment  with  which  this  immortal 
proclamation  is  received.  There  are  some  men  in  every 
company  who  perfectly  comprehended  the  relation  which 
slavery  sustained  to  secession,  and  who  had  foreseen  the 
necessity  of  an  emancipation  measure,  when  the  first  gun 
was  fired.  There  are  others  who  to-day  look  upon  the 
measure  as  a  dangerous  expedient. 

Confirmatory   Emancipation   Proclamation. 

WHEREAS,  On  the  22d  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  containing,  among  other  things,  the  fol 
lowing,  to  wit  : 

"  That  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State 
oj  designated  part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof  shall  then  be  in  rebellion 
against  the  United  States,  shall  be  then,  thenceforward,  and  forever  free  ; 
and  the  Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  including  the  mili 
tary  and  naval  authority  thereof,  will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom 
of  such  persons,  and  will  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons,  or  any 
of  them,  in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their  actual  freedom." 

"That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of  January  aforesaid,  by 
proclamation,  designate  the  States  and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the 
people  thereof  respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United 
States  ;  and  the  fact  that  any  State,  or  the  people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day 
be  in  good  faith  represented  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  by 
members  chosen  thereto  at  elections  wherein  a  majority  of  the  qualified 
voters  of  such  States  shall  have  participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of 
strong  countervailing  testimony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  that  such 
State  and  the  people  thereof  are  not  then  in  rebellion  against  the  United 
States." 


THE    EMANCIPATION   PROCLAMATION.  133 

Now,  therefore,  I,  AKKAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United 
States;  by  Virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States  iri  time  of  actual  armed  rebelliori 
against  the  authority  and  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  as  a  fit 
and  necessary  war  measure  for  suppressing  said  rebellion,  do,  on  this 
first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-three,  and  in  accordance  with  my  purpose  so  to  do,  publicly  pro 
claimed  for  the  full  period  of  one  hundred  days  from  the  day  first  above 
mentioned,  order  and  designate,  as  the  States  and  parts  of  States  wherein 
the  people  thereof,  respectively,  are  this  day  in  rebellion  against  the 
United  States,  the  following,  to  wit  :  Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana  (except 
the  parishes  of  St.  Barnard,  Plaquimines,  Jefferson,  St.  John,  St.  Charles, 
St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption,  Terre  Bonne,  Lafourche,  St.  Mary, 
St.  Martin,  and  Orleans,  including  the  city  of  New  Orleans),  Mississippi, 
Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  and  Vir 
ginia,  (except  the  forty-eight  counties  designated  as  West  Virginia,  and 
also  the  counties  of  Barkley,  Accomac,  Northamton,  Elizabeth  City, 
York,  Princess  Anne,  and  Norfolk,  including  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and 
Portsmouth),  and  which  excepted  parts  are  for  the  present  left  precisely  as 
if  this  proclamation  were  not  issued. 

And  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  I  do  order 
and  declare  that  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  said  designated  States, 
are,  and  henceforward  shall  be  free  ;  and  that  the  Executive  Government 
of  the  United  States,  including  the  military  and  naval  authorities  thereof, 
will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  said  persons. 

And  I  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  declared  to  be  free,  to  ab 
stain  from  all  violence,  unless  in  necessary  self  defense  ;  and  I  recom 
mend  to  them  that,  in  all  cases  when  allowed,  they  labor  faithfully  for 
reasonable  wages. 

And  I  further  declare  and  make  known  that  such  persons,  of  suitable 
condition,  will  be  received  into  the  armed  service  of  the  United  States,  to 
garrison  forts,  positions,  stations  and  other  places,  and  to  man  vessels 
of  all  sorts  in  said  service. 

And  upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  to  be  an  act  of  justice,  war 
ranted  by  the  Constitution,  upon  military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  consid 
erate  judgment  of  mankind,  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Almighty  God. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  name  and  caused  the 
seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of  the  In 
dependence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty-seventh. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


t34  RECORD    OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Our  quiet  camp  life  at  White  Oak  Church  was  not  dis 
turbed  by  any  great  amount  of  duty.  All  sorts  of  rumors 
filled  the  air,  of  a  raid  here,  or  a  flank  movement  in  some 
other  direction,  but  we  continued  to  enjoy  ourselves  in  our 
snug  winter  quarters  until  the  night  of  January  iQth,  1863. 
When  orders  came  to  move,  the  next  morning. 

Tuesday,  January  2Oth,  as  soon  as  our  breakfast  was 
over,  we  dismantled  our  cabins  of  their  canvas  roofs,  as 
they  had  to  serve  us  for  tents  on  the  march,  and  about 
noon  bid  a  sorrowful  adieu  to  our  comfortable  quarters  and 
fell  in  line.  Just  before  starting,  an  order  from  Gen. 
Burnside,  was  read  to  us  by  Gen.  Bartlett,  stating  :  "  That 
we  were  about  to  meet  the  enemy  once  more,"  and  that 
"  the  auspicious  moment  had  arrived  to  strike  a  great  and 
mortal  blow  to  the  rebellion,  and  to  give  that  decisive  vic 
tory  which  is  due  to  the  country." 

We  had  a  long  march  of  twelve  miles.  The  weather 
was  very  cold,  but  pleasant.  The  pontoon  train  was  along, 
and  it  was  ordered  that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  cross 
the  river  above  Fredericksburg. 

The  air  had  been  so  cold  during  the  week,  and  the  frost? 
so  keen,  that  the  roads  seemed  as  firm  as  adamant,  and  the 
trains  were  moved  with  celerity.  When  we  reached  that 
portion  of  our  line  in  the  rear  of  Falrnouth,  we  found  that 
the  troops  that  were  encamped  in  and  around  Falmouth— 
though  none  of  those  whose  camps  were  in  view7  of  the 
Confederates — had  changed  their  positions.  The  expedi 
tion  was  evidently  to  be  a  surprise. 

It  was  a  splendid  day,  and  mounted  and  foot  made  good 
time  over  the  firm  roads.  Auspices  were  favorable,  and 
rank  and  file  were  hopeful  of  a  successful  result.  We  went 
into  camp  just  at  dark,  in  a  dense  pine  forest  ;  could  not 
build  any  fires  as  the  green  pine  would  not  burn.  The 
ground  was  frozen  so  hard  that  we  could  hardly  drive  the 
tent-pins.  Scarcely  had  night  arrived,  when  a  storm  arose, 
a  storm  in  earnest.  The  wind  blew  a  gale  and  rocked  the 
trees  spitefully.  The  night  was  very  dark.  The  rain  soon 
dissolved  the  firm  crust  that  had  borne  us  up  all  day.  The 


STORY  OF  THE  MUD  MARCH.  135 

tent-pins  would  not  hold,  and  down  came  the  tents.  The 
wheels  of  the  artillery  and  wagons  settled  into  the  ooz 
ing  mud,  hours  before  an  attempt  was  made  to  move  them. 
Our  blankets  were  wet  through,  and  we  found  ourselves 
lying  in  a  pool  of  ice-cold  water.  Morning  dawned  upon  a 
dank,  wet  body  of  men.  No  one  got  a  wink  of  sleep,  and 
all,  in  that  cheerless  wilderness  of  trees  and  mud,  agreed 
that  it  was  the  most  tedious  night  that  we  had  ever  passed. 

About  8  o'clock  we  packed  up  and  marched  on  two  or 
three  miles.  Our  blankets  were  wet  and  very  heavy  ;  the 
mud  was  deep,  and  we  had  a  hard  time.  One  soldier,  in 
his  diary,  puts  it  in  this  way  :  "  Marched  at  8  o'clock. 
Every  rag  wet  ;  knapsack  heavy  as  a  mountain  ;  poor  me 
nearly  frozen  to  death  ;  expect  to  cross  the  river  and  have 
a  fight." 

We  went  into  camp  in  a  piece  of  oak  woods,  about  noon. 
Built  up  large  fires,  dried  our  blankets  and  clothes,  pitched 
our  tents  and  made  ourselves  quite  comfortable.  The  rain 
continued  to  fall  all  day  and  night,  and  defeated  our  plans, 
for  we  soon  heard  that  the  move  was  given  up — for  which 
the  rebs.  may  thank  their  stars. 

Friday,  January  23d. — The  men  are  in  excellent  health 
and  fine  spirits,  after  having  had  a  good  night's  rest,  and  a 
gill  of  whiskey  in  lieu  of  rations,  which  are  getting  quite 
short.  The  clouds  cleared  away  about  three,  and  the  sun 
shone  out  warm  and  bright, — when  we  were  ordered  to 
pack  up,  and  made  a  short  march  up  the  river,  very  near 
the  shore,  where  we  are  to  guard  one  of  the  pontoon  trains, 
which  is  stuck  in  the  mud,  and  help  draw  it  and  the  ar 
tillery  up  from  the  plain  to  higher  ground  back  from  the  river. 

Looking  across  the  river,  we  could  see  a  big  tent  fly, 
which  the  rebs.  had  put  up  early  Wednesday  morning,  on 
which  they  had  written  with  charcoal  : 

"BURNSIDE    STUCK    IN    THE    MUD!" 
They  were  greatly  elated  at  the  discomfiture  of  our  army, 
and  amused  themselves  by  offering  to  come  over  and  extri 
cate  our  men  from  the   mud  ;  to  aid   them  in  crossing,  and 
to  show  them  around  on  the  other  side. 


136      RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Saturday,  the  24th,  our  entire  division  was  set  to  work 
pulling  the  pontoon  wagons  out  of  the  mud.  Every  wagon 
and  gun  was  down  to  the  axle  in  the  mud,  and  it  was  vain 
to  try  to  draw  them  with  the  mules.  So  a  long  rope  was 
made  fast  to  each  side  of  a  wagon,  and  from  one  to  two 
hundred,  and  sometimes  three  hundred  men  would  take 
hold  of  the  ropes,  and  at  a  given  signal  would  start  and 
draw  them  up  a  hill  TO  some  high  ground,  where  they  were 
parked,  and  left  for  the  mud  to  settle.  This  gave  us  a  hard 
and  dirty  day's  work,  but  at  the  same  time  lots  of  fun. 

At  one  time,  when  we  were  all  tugging  away  at  the  ropes, 
a  spruce  young  officer  rode  up,  dressed  in  a  bright  uniform, 
with  white  gauntlets,  and,  in  a  petemptory  tone,  ordered 
some  of  the  men  to  pull  harder, — when  a  man  who  had 
hold  of  one  of  the  ropes,  and  was  dressed  in  an  old  blouse, 
with  a  slouch  hat,  looked  around  over  his  shoulder,  and 
said,  "Who  are  you,  anyway?"  "I  am  Lieut.  Hunter, 
in  command  of  the  engineers."  "  Well,  I  am  Major-Gen. 
Brooks,  in  command  of  this  division,  and  I  order  you  to 
get  down  from  that  horse  and  take  hold  of  the  rope  with 
these  men."  And  down  he  had  to  come,  saluted  by  a  de 
risive  cheer  from  the  men  ;  and  the  boys  soon  had  his  new 
uniform  well  spattered  with  mud. 

After  a  few  hours'  work  Sunday  morning,  the  last  boat 
was  drawn  out  ;  and  we,  looking  as  though  we  had  been 
buried  in  the  mud  and  dug  out  again,  were  ordered  to 
march  back  to  our  old  camp  at  White  Oak  Church.  We 
reached  our  cabins  about  dark  ;  and,  though  the  men  had 
been  allowed  to  march  at  will  and  pick  their  way,  the  mud 
being  knee-deep,  they  were  very  tired.  The  officers  had 
ordered  that  barrels  of  whiskey  should  be  placed  beside  the 
street,  with  the  heads  removed,  and  every  man  was  urged 
to  take  a  big  ration.  We  then  wrapped  ourselves  in  our 
damp  blankets,  and  lay  down  on  our  old  beds,  without 
shelter,  and  awoke  next  morning  with  our  garments  steam 
ing  from  the  heat  and  moisture.  Thus  ended  the  march 
that  has  gone  into  history  under  the  name  of  "  Burnside 
Stuck  in  the  Mud  !" 


GENERAL   KURNSIDE   RELIEVED.  137 

It  was  the  second  unsuccessful  attempt  to  take  Fred- 
ericksburg,  which  still  held  out  against  us,  while  the  enemy's 
pickets  would  tauntingly  call  across  the  Rappahannock  to 
our  pickets,  and  ask,  "  When  are  you  coming  over  again  ?" 
"  Have  you  got  your  mules  out  of  the  mud  ?"  But  we  can 
quietly  bide  our  time,  for  we  know  that  eventually  the 
place  must  fall  into  our  hands, — not  without  hard  fight 
ing,  however ;  but  this  we  are  ready  for  when  the  weather 
will  permit. 

In  this  last  movement  Gen.  Burnside  had  acted  almost 
solely  upon  his  own  responsibility.  The  sentiment  of  his 
general  officers  was  almost  unanimously  against  it,  and  some 
of  them  freely  expressed  themselves  in  opposition.  This 
was  a  powerful  reason  for  abandoning  the  plan,  aside  from 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather. 

Gen.  Burnside  now  expressed  his  intention  to  either 
partly  re-officer  and  reorganize  his  army,  or  to  resign  his 
commission  as  major-general  ;  for  he  had  become  con 
vinced  not  only  that  he  did  not  have  the  co-operation  of 
a  large  number  of  his  subordinate  officers  of  high  rank,  but 
that  some  of  them  were  doing  all  in  their  power  to  thwart 
his  plans.  He  accordingly  prepared  an  order  dismissing 
from  the  service  Gens.  Hooker,  Brooks,  Cochrane  and  New 
ton  ;  and  relieving  from  their  commands  Gens.  Franklin, 
W.  F.  Smith,  Sturgis,  and  Ferrero,  and  Col.  Taylor.  Pro 
ceeding  to  Washington,  he  asked  the  President  to  approve 
of  this  order,  or  to  accept  his  resignation.  The  President 
referred  the  order  to  his  military  advisers,  who  declined  to 
recommend  its  approval. 

Accordingly,  unwilling  to  accept  his  resignation,  the 
President  relieved  Gen.  Burnside  of  the  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  not  long  after  assigned  him  to 
the  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  Gen.  Hooker 
was  made  Gen.  Burnside's  successor.  At  the  same  time, 
Gens.  Sumner  and  Franklin,  at  their  own  request,  were  also 
relieved,  and  ordered  to  report  elsewhere.  These  changes 
were  announced  to  the  army  January  26th. 


138  RECORD    OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

In  taking  leave  of  the  army,  Gen.  Burnside  issued  the 
following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  ) 
FALMOUTH,  Va.,  Jan.  26,  1863.  j 

General  Orders  No,  q. 

By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  the  commanding 
general  this  day  transfers  the  command  of  this  arm)'  to  Major-General 
Joseph  Hooker. 

The  short  time  that  he  has  directed  your  movements  has  not  been  fruit 
ful  of  victory,  or  any  considerable  advancement  of  our  lines  ;  but  it  has 
again  demonstrated  an  amount  of  courage,  patience,  and  endurance  that, 
under  more  favorable  circumstances,  would  have  accomplished  great  re 
sults.  Continue  to  exercise  these  virtues  ;  be  true  in  your  devotion  to 
your  country  and  the  principles  you  have  sworn  to  maintain  ;  give  to  the 
brave  and  skillful  general  who  has  so  long  been  identified  with  your  or 
ganization,  and  who  is  now  to  command  you,  your  full  and  cordial  sup 
port  and  co-operation,  and  you  will  deserve  success. 

In  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  the  entire  army,  from  which  he  sep 
arates  with  so  much  regret,  he  may  be  pardoned  if  he  bids  an  especial 
farewell  to  his  long-time  associates  of  the  Ninth  Corps. 

His  prayer  is  that  God  may  be  with  you,  and  grant  you  continued  suc 
cess,  until  the  rebellion  is  crushed. 

A.   E.   BURNSIDE, 

Major-General. 

President  Lincoln's  letter  to  Gen.  Hooker,  upon  his  ap 
pointment  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
was  a  characteristic  document  from  a  remarkable  man,  and 
was  as  follows : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  ) 

WASHINGTON,    D.  C.,  January  26,  1863.  j 
Major-  General  Hooker  : 

GENERAL  : — I  have  placed  you  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Of  course  I  have  done  this  upon  what  appeared  to  me  to  be  sufficient 
reasons,  and  yet  I  think  it  best  for  you  to  know  that  there  are  some  things 
in  regard  to  which  I  am  not  quite  satisfied  with  you. 

I  believe  you  to  be  a  brave  and  skillful  soldier,  which,  of  course,  I  like. 
I  also  believe  you  do  not  mix  politics  with  your  profession,  in  which  you 
are  right.  You  have  confidence  in  yourself,  which  is  a  valuable,  if  not 


PRESIDENT   LINCOLN  S    LETTER.  139 

an  indispensable  quality.  You  arc  ambitious,  which,  within  reasonable 
hounds,  does  good  rather  than  harm  ;  but  I  think  during  Gen.  Burnside's 
command  of  the  army,  you  have  taken  counsel  of  your  ambition,  and 
thwarted  him  as  much  as  you  could,  in  which  you  did  a  great  wrong  to  the 
country  and  to  a  most  meritorious  and  honorable  brother  officer.  I  have 
heard,  in  such  a  way  as  to  believe  it,  of  your  recently  saying  that  both  the 
army  and  the  government  needed  a  Dictator.  Of  course  it  was  not  for 
this,  but  in  spite  of  it,  that  I  have  given  you  the  command. 

What  I  now  ask  of  you  is  military  success,  and  I  will  risk  the  dictator 
ship.  The  government  will  support  you  to  the  utmost  of  its  ability,  which 
is  neither  more  nor  less  than  it  has  done,  and  will  do  for  all  commanders, 
I  much  fear  that  the  spirit  which  you  have  aided  to  infuse  into  the  army, 
of  criticising  their  commander,  and  withholding  confidence  from  him,  will 
now  turn  upon  you.  I  shall  assist  you,  as  far  as  I  can,  to  put  it  down. 
Neither  you  nor  Napoleon,  if  lie  were  alive  again,  could  get  any  good  out 
of  an  army  while  such  a  spirit  prevails  in  it. 

And  now  beware  of  rashness,  but  with  energy  and  sleepless  vigilance, 
go  forward  and  give  us  victories. 

Yours,  very  truly, 

A.    LINCOLN. 

Notwithstanding  some  grave  defects  in  his  character  and 
habits,  Gen.  Hooker,  as  a  soldier,  had  enlisted  the  confi 
dence  and  won  the  affection  of  the  men.  The  plucky  qual 
ities  which  had  given  to  him  the  name  of  "Fighting  Joe," 
seemed  to  be  an  assurance  of  the  activity  and  energy  that 
were  so  necessary  to  the  successful  endurance  of  the  con 
test  ;  while  his  kindly  nature,  and  his  genial,  social  temper 
ament,  won  the  love  and  good  wishes  of  all  who  came  in 
contact  with  him. 

In  appearance,  when  in  command,  he  represented  the 
clashing,  chivalrous  soldier,  of  whom  we  have  read  in  his 
tory  and  fiction,  inspiring  confidence  and  awakening  our 
enthusiasm.  As  he  rode  along  the  line  while  reviewing  a 
corps,  mounted  upon  a  snow-white  steed,  horse  and  rider 
seeming  but  one ;  erect  in  all  the  pride  of  command ;  his 
hair  nearly  white,  contrasting  strongly  with  his  ruddy  com 
plexion,  he  looked  the  perfect  ideal  of  a  dashing,  gallant, 
brave  commander.  We  soon  learned  that  his  skill  in  organ 
ization  fully  equalled  his  bravery japon  the^battle-field  ;  and 


140  RECORD    OF    2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

the  results  were  apparent  in  the  improved  discipline  and 
morale  of  the  troops. 

And  it  must  be  recorded  on  every  page  that  illustrates 
the  splendid  military  achievements  of  Hooker,  that  he  was 
the  commander  who  knew  how  to  inspire  confidence  in  him 
self,  by  considerately  reposing  confidence  in  others. 

Gen.  Sumner,  after  being  relieved,  retired  to  his  home  in 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  but  his  enforced  idleness,  and  the  absence 
of  the  military  surroundings  to  which  he  had  been  accus 
tomed  during  the  best  part  of  his  life,  chafed  the  veteran 
soldier,  and  probably  hurried  him  to  his  end.  He  died  on 
the  2 1st  of  March  following.  The  words  of  a  brilliant  wri 
ter,  when  afterwards  speaking  of  him,  were  fully  merited: 
44  We  have  had  better  captains  than  Sumner,  but  no  better 
soldiers — no  braver  patriots." 

The  words  which  trembled  upon  the  dying  lips  of  the  old 
general — "  May  God  bless  my  country,  the  United  States 
of  America" — were  the  key-note  of  his  life.  Green  be  the 
turf  above  his  grave. 

Gen.  Hooker,  upon  assuming  command,  immediately  be 
gan  improving  the  discipline  and  perfecting  the  organization 
of  his  troops,  and  with  such  success  that  he  had,  some  two 
months  afterward,  as  he  declared,  "  The  finest  army  on  the 
planet !"  He  broke  up  the  "  grand  divisions,"  which  many 
officers  had  considered  useless  formations ;  infused  his  own 
vitality  into  the  staff  and  administrative  service ;  and  gave 
distinctive  badges  to  the  different  corps.  This  latter  idea 
was  one  of  the  best  ever  adopted,  and  the  soldiers  of  the 
army  took  pride  in  the  display  of  the  badges  of  their  respec 
tive  divisions  and  corps. 

These  badges  were  made  of  flannel  cloth,  cut  into  the 
shape  designated  for  each  corps,  an  inch  and  a  half  long, 
and  were  ordered  to  be  worn  on  the  top  of  the  cap,  or  on 
the  left  side  of  the  hat. 

The  1st  Corps  was  designated  by  a  disk;  the  2cl,  by  a 
trefoil ;  the  3d,  by  a  lozenge  ;  the  5th,  by  a  Maltese  cross  ; 
the  6th,  by  a  plain  (or  Greek)  cross  ;  the  i  ith,  by  a  crescent  ; 
and  the  I2th,  by  a  star.  (See  next  page.) 


j 


CORPS   BADGES.  141 

Each  corps  had  three  divisions,  and  the  badges, 
whose  form  determined  the  corps,  also  designa 
ted  the  divisions  by  colors.  The  badge  of  the 
first  division  of  each  corps  was  made  of  scarlet 
cloth;  the  second,  of  white;  and  the  third, 
of  blue.  The  headquarters  flag  of  each  division 
was  decorated  in  the  same  way. 

The  idea  of  corps  badges  first  originated  with 
Gen.  Kearney,  who  had,  some  time  before  he 
was  killed,  directed  that  the  men  of  his  brigade 
should  wear  a  badge  to  indicate  the  command 
to  which  they  belonged. 

By  means  of  these  badges,  any  officer  or  man  g 
could  tell  at  a  glance  to  what  command  any  body 
of   men  belonged.     The  2/th,  being  in  the  first 
division,   sixth   corps,  wore  a  red   Greek  cross.  ON 
When  the  order  to  wear  badges  was  first  issued, 
Gen.  Bartlett   conceived   the  idea  of  making  a 
badge  that  would  also  indicate  his  brigade  :  so 
he  ordered  them  to  wear  a  cross,  with  the  stand- 
ard  longer  than  the  arms,  or  a  regular  "  crucifix  ;" 
but  this  gave  rise  to  so  much  profane  wit,  and  * 
made  the  brigade  a  "  butt  "  for  so  many  irrev-  £. 
erent  remarks  from  other  commands,  that  it  was 
soon  abandoned. 

The  same  day,  the  26th,  everybody  was  busy  fixing  over 
their  cabins,  and  getting  comfortable  quarters  constructed. 
Gen.  Slocum  visited  our  camp,  and  we  gave  him  three  times 
three  hearty  cheers.  We  now  settled  down  to  the  regular 
camp  duties,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  individual 
mishaps,  camp  life  was  quite  endurable.  Occasionally  a 
tent  would  take  fire  and  burn  down  over  its  luckless  occu 
pant.  One  man  cut  off  his  foot  while  chopping  wood  ;  and 
one  wrote  in  his  diary  as  follows  : 

"  Wednesday,  January  28,  1863.  —  Snowed  all  day;  mud 
knee  deep  ;  my  fire-place  caved  in  ;  cold  as  Greenland  ;  I 
am  in  a  peck  of  trouble  !  My  country  !  oh  my  country  ' 


142  RECORD   OF   2?TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

would  that  my  patriotism  had  been  less  !    so   that   I  had 
never  fought  for  thee!" 

"  January  29. — Snow  ten  inches  deep ;  made  a  new  '  she 
bang  ;'  snow  all  melted  before  night." 

We  now  had  plenty  of  time  to  write  letters,  and  some  of 
these,  with  their  answers,  will  show  better  what  a  soldier 
was  doing  or  thinking,  than  any  other  line  of  history  : 

CAMP  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Voi.s.,  NEAR  WHITE  ( 
OAK  CHURCH,  Va.,  February,  1863.  J 

MY  KIND  FRIEND:— It  is  a  bright,  beautiful  day,  and  not  unlike  the 
one  you  described  in  your  letter,  received  two  weeks  ago.  But  what 
changes  have  we  experienced  during  these  two  weeks  :  Cold,  rain,  snow, 
and  mud,  have  been  the  order  with  us  ;  and,  1  assure  you,  we  know  how 
to  appreciate  pleasant  weather  now.  As  I  apprehended,  our  regiment 
started  on  the  march  the  day  after  my  last  was  written.  We  had  to  leave 
our  comfortable  quarters  only  to  experience  a  week  of  the  most  extreme 
cold  and  exposure  that  it  has  ever  been  our  lot  to  endure.  It  being  a 
"  variety,"  the  men  bore  it  without  a  murmur,  but  were  thankful  enough 
to  get  back  to  our  old  camp,  which  we  reached  Sunday  night. 

You  have  already  read  the  particulars  of  the  last  move,  in  the  papers  ; 
so  I  will  not  write  them,  only  to  say  that  our  division  had  it  much  harder 
than  the  rest  of  the  army,  having  been  left  behind  to  guard  and  drag  the 
pontoon  train  out  of  the  mud.  But  it  is  all  over,  and  for  the  past  week 
we  have  been  busy  building  up  our  huts  again,  and  we  are  now  even  more 
comfortable  than  we  were  before  ;  and  can  enjoy  it,  without  any  fear  of 
another  move  at  present.  For  the  last  attempt  has  clearly  demonstrated 
the  fact  that  a  winter  campaign  in  Virginia  is  out  of  the  question. 

Gen.  McClellan  learned  this  long  ago,  but  the  new  generals  and  -the 
people  have  only  just  found  it  out.  Your  letter  came  straight,  as  you 
charged  it,  and  it  met  me  when  returning  to  camp,  at  just  the  right  time 
to  revive  my  spirits  ;  for  I  was  very  weary  with  the  fatiguing  march.  That 
was  a  Sabbath  long  to  be  remembered,  but  now  that  we  are  settled  com 
fortably  in  camp,  we  try  to  forget  by-gones,  laugh  at  our  discouragement, 
and  keep  in  the  best  of  spirits. 

There  is  beauty  even  in  war,  but  how  hard  for  us  to  see  it.  Yet  God's 
purposes  will  be  accomplished.  The  day  of  good  may  be  near  at  hand, 
or  it  may  be  far  away,  and  we  may  not  live  to  see  it  ;  but  what  are  our  lives 


A   SOLDIER  S   LETTER.  143 

compared  to  the  existence  of  the  Nation  ?  At  present  our  cause  looks  par 
ticularly  dark.  There  has  been  another  change  of  generals,  but  no  more 
satisfactory.  Still,  "  Fighting  Joe  "  has  gone  to  work  with  a  will,  and  he 
may  yet  prove  to  be  "  the  man  ;"  but  we  look  for  nothing  till  the  tried  and 
worthy  "  Little  Mac"  is  returned.  We  grieve  much  at  the  loss  of  Sumner 
and  Franklin.  We  know  them  to  be  gallant  and  brave,  and  hope  that 
Franklin  may  be  returned.  Our  old  Colonel — now  General — Slocum  is 
in  a  fair  way  to  rise  still  higher,  and  will  probably  take  Franklin's  place. 
He  came  to  visit  his  old  brigade  one  day  last  week,  and  made  us  a  nice 
little  speech.  He  is  a  favorite  with  all  who  know  him.  Our  division 
commander — Brooks — has  never  distinguished  himself,  but  is  liked  quite 
well.  He  had  some  difficulty,  during  the  late  move,  with  Gen.  Burnside 
and  Gen.  Smith,  and  is  now  in  Washington,  under  arrest.  And  our  fav 
orite,  Joe  Bartlett,  is  now  in  command  of  the  division.  He,  too,  is  bound 
to  rise,  and  will  soon  get  the  other  "  star."  The  boys  are  now  all  looking 
anxiously  forward  to  the  time  of  our  discharge  :  only  three  months  more, 
and  we  shall  be  free.  This  is  now  all  the  talk  in  camp,  and  there  are 
some  rumors  that  we  are  to  be  discharged  before.  For  if  there  is  to  be  no 
move  till  spring,  we  can  hardly  see  the  object  in  keeping  us  ;  but  I  do  not 
look  for  a  premature  discharge. 

(Evening.) — I  think  if  you  were  to  look  into  our  tent  to-night,  you 
would  almost  envy  us  our  situation.  We  are  seated  beside  a  good  warm 
fire.  Our  tent  is  much  better  than  it  was  before  we  moved  :  we  have  dug 
down  deeper  in  the  ground,  and  built  the  logs  up  higher  on  the  sides. 
We  are  each  writing  letters  by  the  light  of  a  tallow  candle.  We  have  just 
finished  our  supper,  and  have  had  an  excellent  meal  of  potatoes  and  pan 
cakes,  with  butter  to  eat  on  them.  Yes  ;  as  good  as  you  can  get  up  at 
home.  The  butter,  mother  sent  me  in  a  box  ;  the  flour  and  potatoes  we 
buy  of  the  commissary.  I  won't  give  in  to  any  woman  on  getting  up  a 
meal.  If  you  don't  believe  me,  step  in  and  take  breakfast  with  us  in  the 
morning,  and  I  will  prove  it.  To-day  there  has  been  an  inspection  of  our 
brigade,  all  the  men  being  called  out :  I,  being  on  duty,  did  not  have  to 
go,  but  1  shall  have  to  be  up  a  good  part  of  the  night.  Discipline  among 
the  old  troops  is  about  "  played  out."  Excuse  my  soldier  phrase. 

Oh  !  what  a  sick  lot  of  men  the  new  troops  are.  They  do  not  seem  to 
understand  how  to  make  themselves  comfortable  :  so  that  they  suffer  very 
much  from  exposure,  and  just  sit  down  and  complain.  One  of  our  boys 
made  a  visit  to  the  —  —  regiment  to-day.  They  are  in  camp  fifteen 

miles  from  here.  He  says  "they  have  not  fixed  up  their  camp  at  all,  but 
have  their  tents  pitched  on  the  ground,  the  same  as  we  do  in  summer. 


144      RECORD  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

They  are  already  very  tired  of  the  service.  It  is  amusing  to  hear  them  talk. 
I  reckon  they  will  get  enough  of  it  before  their  time  is  out." 

I  hear  that  my  brother  has  entered  the  service.  It  must  be  quite  lonely 
at  home,  but  mother,  judging  by  her  letters,  seems  to  keep  quite  cheerful. 
I  hope  you  will  do  all  you  can  to  comfort  her. 

Yesterday,  Sunday,  we  had  no  service  in  camp.  Our  Chaplain  does 
not  seem  to  exert  himself  much  in  the  line  of  his  calling.  Very  few  of 
the  men  have  any  regard  for  religion,  and  Sunday  is  disregarded  and  pro 
faned,  to  a  great  extent. 

Last  evening  we  spent  quietly  in  our  tent,  but  were  disturbed  until 
midnight  by  a  lot  of  men  and  officers  of  a  regiment  camped  near  us,  who 
had  collected  in  a  tent  near  by,  and  spent  the  evening  in  drinking,  and 
singing  religious  and  profane  songs  alternately.  They  held  a  mock 
prayer-meeting,  some  exhorting,  and  otheis  cursing  in  a  most  profane  and 
vulgar  manner:  while,  in  our  tent,  we  read  one  of  Beecher's  sermons, 
from  the  "Independent."  Awful  good  boys,  aren't  we? 

Colporters  and  exhorters  are  numerous  through  the  camps,  and 
there  have  been  many  conversions  among  the  men  of  the  Sixth  Corps. 
1  must  relate  another  incident,  to  show  the  tone  of  some  of  the  officers  in 
relation  to  religious  things  : 

Zealous  Col.  —  — ,  having  been  informed  that  seven  men  in  a  neigh 
boring  regiment  had  been  baptized,  ordered  his  sergeant  to  detail  fifteen 
men  to  be  bapti/.ed, — adding  that  he  did  not  propose  to  be  outdone  in 
anything  by  Col.  —  — ,  of  the regiment  ! 

I  had  a  good  joke  played  on  me  one  day  last  week,  by  a  comrade  from 
another  company.  lie  was  in  my  tent  a  short  time,  and  proposed  (for 
sport)  that  he  should  write  to  some  young  lady  of  his  acquaintance  whom 
I  did  not  know,  and  sign  my  name  ;  and  1  was  to  do  the  same,  and  sign 
his  name.  Of  course  I  agreed.  Anything  for  fun  here  in  camp.  But 
to-day  I  learn  that  he  has  written  to  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine,  and  has 
got  me  into  a  bad  box.  So  the  fun  is  all  on  one  side.  It  is  getting  late, 
and  I  must  retire  so  as  to  be  ready  to  get  up  at  three  in  the  morning. 

Orders  have  just  come  for  our  regiment  to  go  on  picket  to-morrow, 
to  be  gone  four  days.  How  provoking  !  but  never  mind — all  for  variety  ! 
Many  thanks  for  your  sympathy  and  kind  remembrance.  Please  write 
soon  to  your  true  friend. 


A   flOOD   FRIEND   OF   GEN.    M'CLELLAN.  145 

A  Woman's  Answer. 

HOME,  Feb.  10,  1863. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : — Welcome  was  your  little  white-winged  messenger, 
as  it  dropped  in  on  us  last  Friday  evening,  just  when  "the  candles  were 
lit  in  the  parlor."  We  had  a  great  many  fears  that,  on  account  of  your 
marching,  our  letters  had  failed  to  reach  you,  and  had  gone  to  swell 
"  Uncle  Sam's"  already  long  list  in  the  "  Dead-letter  Postoffice."  I  some 
times  think  your  letters  do  us  as  much  good  as  ours  can  you.  In  our 
lonely  winter  of  watching  over  the  sick — for  sister  E.  is  gradually  wasting 
away — it  brings  us  much  cheer  to  hear  from  our  friends. 

Your  invitation  to  breakfast  with  you  1  certainly  would  accept,  if  there 
were  not  so  many  ifs  in  the  way.  I  would  love  to  visit  my  old  acquaint 
ances  in  camp,  and  well  imagine  the  good  visit  you  and  Major  W.  must 
have  enjoyed.  But  now,  just  as  you  are  nicely  settled  aga^n,  the  papers 
say  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  is  to  advance  !  How  provoking.  Variety, 
to  be  sure,  is  the  spice  of  life  ;  but  too  much  spice  is  as  bad  as  none  at  all. 
I  can  appreciate  your  feelings  on  returning  again  to  your  old  camp.  You 
almost  felt  like  singing  "  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  when  you  saw  it  again, 
didn't  you?— (I  had  forgotten  you  never  sing) — for  it  was  your  soldier 
home. 

I  do  think  you  have  had  a  regular  splitting  up  time  among  jour  gen 
erals,  and  hardly  know  how  to  understand  it.  Those  whom  I  have  always 
supposed  to  be  the  best  of  all,  are  censured  and  dismissed.  How  strange  ! 
Yet  perhaps  I  do  not  know,  being  only  a  woman  !  When  Burnside  took 
McClellan's  place,  I  prophesied  a  short  term  of  service  for  him,— that  he 
would  soon  be  dismissed,  and  McClellan  eventually  returned.  Not  that 
I  disliked  Burnside,  for  I  have  thought  well  of  him,  judging  from  past 
events.  And  sure  enough,  he  is  relieved  ;  and,  strange  as  it  may  seem — 
I  hope  it  is  something  more  than  rumor — yesterday's  papers  said  the  Pres 
ident  wished  to  return  McClellan,  but,  the  cabinet  objecting,  postponed 
it  for  the  present.  Yet  the  papers  added,  that  it  was  thought  in  two  weeks 
he  would  be  returned.  Can  you  imagine  that  I  said  I  would  not  go  back, 
if  I  were  he?  Twas  a  quick  thought  that  prompted  it,  but  I  hope  if  he 
does,  his  accusers  will  all  own  his  blamelessness,  and  be  convinced  that 
he  knows,  more  than  they  what  ought  to  be  done.  Oh,  when  that  time 
comes,  and  he  rises  pre-eminent  above  his  detractors  (as  I  almost  feel  con 
fident  he  will),  as  high  as  the  tallest  trees  are  above  the  lowest  shrubs  on 
the  hillside,  won't  we  shout  aloud  and  clap  our  hands  for  joy  ! 

But  I  am  getting  rather  demonstrative,  am  I  not  ?     Never  mind  ;  the 


146  RECORt)   OF   27TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

case  calls  for  it.  I  am  so— wicked,  some  would  say,  that  I  ask  no  greater 
enjoyment  than  to  see  his  accusers  as  deeply  sorry  and  humbled  for  the 
injustice  they  have  done  him,  as  they  have  been  abusive  against  him. 
All  the  powers  of  earth  combined  can  never  convince  me  that  he  is  wrong, 
as  long  as  his  conduct  is  as  Christian  and  upright  as  it  ever  has  been, 
lie  wrong  ?  No  !  When  the  sun  withdraws  its  light,  and  the  stars  forget 
to  shine,  then  it  will  do  to  talk  of  his  faults  ;  but  till  then,  let  all  be  sat 
isfied  to  talk  no  more  ;  and  while  time  lasts,  as  there  is  no  danger  of  being 
deprived  of  these  lights,  so  there  will  be  no  opportunity  of  talking  against 
him.  But  you  must  think  my  letter  is  a  panegyric  on  McClellan,  bin 
when  I  get  to  writing  about  him,  I  hardly  know  when  to  stop. 

You  wrote  that  you  were  to  start  next  day  for  a  four  days'  picket  ex 
cursion  (?)  Did  you  have  as  extreme  cold  weather  as  we  had,  these  days? 
You  must  have  had  a  tedious  time,  for  it  was  the  most  severe  cold  here 
that  has  been  known  in  a  long  while.  I  always  think  of  our  soldiers  at 
such  times,  particularly  for  fear  they  suffer.  I  have  been  so  little  versed 
in  the  arrangements  of  the  army,  that  I  have  never  known  just  how  your 
letters  are  carried  to  you.  Have  you  a  postmaster  connected  with  your 
regiment,  who  attends  to  such  matters?  Some  have,  I  know.  Also,  are 
your  tents  arranged  together,  with  the  headquarters  for  a  center  guiding 
star?  and  are  you  in  the  "  woods,"  or  on  a  plain  ?  I  try  to  imagine  your 
situation,  but  feel,  when  I  have  finished  my  sketch,  it  is  nothing  but  imag 
ination  after  all.  You  must  miss  Sabbath  privileges,  but  I  cannot  see 
why  your  chaplain  does  not  hold  regular  services.  Sabbath  after  Sabbath, 

as  we  gather  in  our  church  and  listen  to  Mr.  H ,  our  dear,  good  pastor, 

my  thoughts  involuntarily  turn  to  those  who  once  met  with  us,  wilh  the 
wish  they  could  enjoy  his  discourses  too.  Hut,  though  away,  he  always 
remembers  them,  and  craves  heavenly  blessings  for  them,  and  the  protec 
tion  of  Him  who  gives  His  angels  charge  concerning  them. 

And  now  good-night.  May  sweet  slumbers  and  pleasant  dreams  be 
yours  to-night;  and  when  the  home  feeling  will  creep  over  you,  and  von 
sigh  for  the  "leeks  and  onions  of  Egypt,"  and  wonder  if  they  think  of 
you  at  home,  just  draw  the  long  sigh  that  betokens  homesickness,  sit  down 
in  one  corner  of  your  tent,  and  write  to  your  true  friend,  in  her  far-away 
Northern  home.  *****  *  *  *  *  -x- 


LOOKING   AFTER   A   RABBIT.  147 

March  2d  to  I3th. — But  little  doing  in  camp.  Occasional 
details  were  made  to  build  corduroy  roads.  These  roads 
would  sink  so  deep  in  the  mud  that  others  had  to  be  built 
over  them,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  our 
supplies  could  be  brought  over  from  Aquia  Creek.  "An 
other  mule  lost  in  the  mud,"  was  a  common  phrase  in 
camp. 

March  I5th,  we  started  out  on  a  four  days'  picket  tour, 
with  cooked  rations.  We  were  relieved  by  the  95th  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  when  we  returned  to  camp,  orders  were  read  in 
regard  to  more  thorough  police  duty.  For  the  next  few 
days  police  duty  was  in  full  operation,  and  the  camp  put 
on  its  former  cleanly  appearance. 

March  22d,  there  was  brigade  inspection  by  the  Inspec 
tor  General,  which  is  thus  recorded  in  a  comrade's  diary  : 
"General  inspection — didn't  get  to  our  company  until  dark. 
We  were  just  as  well  satisfied,  whether  the  Inspector  was 
or  not.  Our  company  shows  to  the  best  advantage  in  the 
dark.  In  fact  they  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  be 
cause — their  breeches  are  dirty  !  " 

It  was  a  favorite  pastime  for  some  of  the  men '  to  slip 
past  the  regimental  guards  and  stroll  out  over  the  country 
for  the  purpose  of  hunting  rabbits,  which  were  very  numer 
ous  about  the  old  fields  and  swamps.  As  the  country  was 
thickly  studded  with  camps,  it  was  rather  dangerous  sport, 
and  an  order  was  issued  forbidding  any  soldier  going  out 
of  camp  with  his  musket,  except  on  special  duty.  Bob 
Way,  the  "famous  jumper"  of  Co.  "  C,"  and  "Pony 
Blair,"  his  tent-mate  and  inseparable  companion,  had  been 
out  on  an  excursion  of  that  kind,  and,  returning,  passed 
near  division  headquarters.  Unfortunately  for  them,  they 
came  upon  Gen.  Brooks,  who  commands  the  division. 
The  boys  saluted  and  marched  steadily  on,  but  the  General 
was  not  so  easily  fooled.  "  Halt  !  "  he  roared.  "  What  are 
you  men  doing  here  with  your  muskets,  and  without  an 
officer?"  The  boys  saw  they  were  in  for  it,  and  knew  the 
old  General  well  enough  to  quickly  determine  that  they 
had  better  make  a  clean  breast  of  it ;  so  they  meekly 


MAJOR-GENERAL  W.  T.  H.  BROOKS. 


THE   WAY   OF  THE   TRANSGRESSOR   HARD. 


149 


replied,  "  We  were  looking  after  a  rabbit."  "  Ah  !  "  said  the 
General,  in  his  blandest  tones,  "  so  you  were  hunting  rabbits, 
were  you  ?  Well,  I  can  save  you  the  trouble."  Calling  to  a 
staff  officer,  he  said  :  "  Mr.  Parsons,  these  men  are  looking  for 
rabbits;  just  show  them  to  the  rabbit  pen."  Following  the 
officer,  they  were  conducted  to  the  guard-house,  where  they 
were  kept  for  a  few  hours,  and  then  released. 

Confinement  in  the  guard-house  was  a  mild  punishment 
compared  with  some  of  the  methods  adopted  at  head 
quarters.  Passing  the  vicinity,  one  would  observe  several 
men  lugging  rails  upon  their  shoulders  and  marching 
around  in  a  circle  under  guard,  and  near  them  others  stand- 


MODES  OF  PUNISHMENT. 

ing  upon  barrels,  and  still  others  were  marching  around 
with  a  barrel  overcoat.  This  was  a  favorite  mode  of  pun 
ishment  with  the  old  General,  but  the  rogues  were  usually 
disporting  themselves  in  their  limited  circles,  not  feeling- 
very  keenly  the  humiliation  it  was  designed  to  produce. 

Still  another  mode  of  punishment  was  to  make  the  cul 
prits  sit  astride  a  pole,  elevated  and  supported  upon  forked 
posts  about  ten  feet  high,  each  man  wearing  a  placard  stat 
ing  the  nature  of  his  offense.  (See  cut.) 

Sometimes  the  offender  would  be  put  on  special  log  duty. 
Two  or  three  sticks  of  four-foot  fire-wood,  not  excessively 
large,  but  fair  size,  were  placed  at  one  end  of  a  line,  and  as 
many  more  at  the  other  end.  The  transgressors  were  re- 


ISO  RECORD    Ol<    2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

quired  to  shoulder  a  billet  at  one  post  and  carry  it  in  "  com 
mon  time"  to  the  other,  there  to  lay  it  down,  and  taking 
up  another,  to  return  over  his  beat  and  deposit  it  at  the 
place  of  departure,  and  so  on  for  several  hours.  The  pun 
ishment  consisted  not  in  the  laborious  character  of  the 
occupation,  but  in  the  fact  that  it  was  useless  labor,  and 
known  to  be  such  by  every  one  else  as  well  as  the  offender. 

Another  Soldier's  Letter. 

CAMP  OK  THK  27'i'H   RKC'T  N.  Y.  Voi.s.,  ) 

NKAR  WHITE  OAK  CHURCH,   VA.,  March — ,  1862.    ( 

DKAR  FRIEND  : — Your  ever  welcome  letter  of  —  date  received.  You 
ask  me  to  describe  the  incidents  of  a  regiment  on  the  march. 

To  the  uninitiated,  a  day's  or  night's  march  of  an  army  might  seem 
easy  to  define — nothing  more  than  the  change  of  its  location  some  ten  or 
perhaps  twenty  miles,  entailing  a  promenade  interesting  or  the  reverse, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  country.  Hut  this  would  he  a  very  faint 
idea  of  the  reality,  especially  when,  often  after  tramping  for  hours  under 
a  hot  sun,  darkness  brought  no  halt,  and  the  marching  extended  far  into 
and  perhaps  through  the  night. 

Orders  have  been  received  to  prepare  to  move,  and  daylight  is  faintly 
glimmering  when  the  first  stir  is  made  among  the  shelter-tents,  in  answer 
to  the  bugle  notes  of  reveille.  Breakfast  is  hurriedly  cooked  and  eaten, 
if  the  boiling  of  a  quart  cup  of  coffee  and  the  friz/ing  of  a  piece  of  pork 
on  a  smoking  log  may  be  termed  a  culinary  process. 

The  laggards  and  epicures  are  still  enjoying  the  last  mouthfuls  when 
the  bugles  again  sound  the  "general,"  which  means,  'Strike  tents,  pack 
up,  and  form  regimental  line."  A  large  army  has  in  it  elements  of  a 
well  regulated  community,  and  it  is  as  easy  for  fifty  thousand  soldiers  to 
bestir  themselves  as  a  dozen.  So  in  a  moment,  acres  of  tents  melt  away 
like  spring  snow,  and  the  white  camp  has  given  place  to  thousands  of 
armed  black  figures  standing  amid  surrounding  camp-fires  and  skeleton 
tent-poles.  Now  time  drags,  unless  your  regiment  is  near  the  van  of  the 
column,  for  it  takes  an  hour,  perhaps  more,  for  the  dillerent  regiments, 
brigades,  divisions,  and  corps  to  debouch  from  their  places  of  bivouac 
and  take  the  road  in  their  right  order. 

At  length  the  column  is  fairly  under  way,  the  men  fresh  and  lithesome 
in  the  morning  air,  when  "  Halt  !"  sounds  the  bugle.  Some  other  corps, 
or  perhaps  an  ammunition  train,  comes  in  from  another  road,  and  you  lie 


HOW    A    MARCH    IS   CONDUCTED.  15 1 

here  for  an  hour.  Then  the  bugle  again  sounds  "  Forward  !"  and  the  line 
is  oft" again.  Two  or  three  miles  are  made  at  a  brisk  pace,  when  the  gait 
becomes  slower,  and  the  column  seems  to  move  by  inches.  Old  soldiers 
know  what  this  foretells.  A  stream  is  being  crossed,  and  the  fording- 
place  permits  the  passage  of  only  a  few  men  at  a  time.  Over  they  go, 
however,  perhaps  waist  deep  in  water,  and,  as  soon  as  the  opposite  bank 
is  reached,  the  closing  up  process  begins,  and  "  Double-quick  "  is  the 
word.  The  longer  the  column  is,  the  slower  by  degrees  becomes  the 
march  of  those  not  yet  over,  and  a  long  running  march  in  wet  clothing 
will  be  the  lot  of  those  who  bring  up  the  rear  after  crossing  the  stream. 

The  men  think  it  would  have  been  just  as  well  if  they  had  been 
allowed  to  straggle  up  leisurely  and  save  their  wind,  for  no  sooner  does 
the  last  straggler  come  pulling  up  to  join  his  command,  than  "  Halt  !  "  is 
blown  again,  and  down  all  sink  on  the  ground  for  a  rest. 

Now  something  seems  to  be  in  the  way,  for  after  a  few  minutes  comes 
an  order  to  turn  out  of  the  road,  and  the  line  pushes  through  the  bushes 
and  brakes  on  each  side,  and  past  a  long  ammunition  train,  discovering  at 
length  that  one  of  its  wagons  has  been  stalled,  i.  e.,  stuck  in  the  mud. 
The  drivers  of  the  mules  are  pulling,  hauling,  striking  and  swearing,  and 
the  mules  are  kicking  and  plunging  as  only  army  mules  can  do  and  sur 
vive.  The  line  is  at  length  past  the  obstruction,  and  again  takes  the  road. 
Perhaps  it  is  noon  by  this  time,  and  if  there  is  no  hurry,  a  halt  may  be 
made  to  boil  the  much-loved  coffee  ;  but  if,  on  the  contrary,  it  be  neces 
sary  to  make  up  lost  time,  the  column  presses  on,  each  man  nibbling  hard 
tack  as  he  goes,  or  biting  into  his  piece  of  bacon  if  he  is  the  lucky  pos 
sessor  of  such  a  morsel.  There  is  no  time  for  rest  now,  and  the  tired  men 
sweep  along  with  the  steady  swing  indicative  of  the  veteran. 

On  the  morning  start,  the  regiment  was  noisy  with  conversation  and 
loud  jokes  were  passed  from  one  to  another.  One  soldier  would  call 
out,  "Hey,  Jim  ;  what  are  you  here  for,  anyhow?"  Jim  would  answer 
with  grim  facetiousness  :  "  Thirteen  dollars  a  month  and  found — dead." 
A  voice  would  follow  with  some  other  absurd  question  that  would  receive 
an  equally  ludicrous  reply,  and  then  would  burst  forth  the  chorus, 
"John  Brown's  Body,"  sung  by  everybody  who  had  voice  enough  left, 
followed  by  "  Rally  Round  the  Flag,"  and  under  the  inspiration  of  the  air 
and  words  the  regiment  would  jog  along  as  though  unconscious  of  the 
surroundings. 

Later  in  the  day,  words  grow  fewer,  and  laughter  and  song  more  scarce; 
and  now,  late  in  the  afternoon,  the  soldiers  have  no  stomach  or  spare  wind 
for  words,  and  scarcely  anything  is  heard  but  the  groan  of  some  sufferer 


15^  RECORD    OF   27TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

from  blistered  feet,  or  the  steady  clink  of  the  bayonet,  swinging  at  the  left 
side,  against  its  neighbor,  the  canteen.  An  occasional  straggler  drops 
from  the  column  :  he  may  be  really  sick,  and  will  wait  for  an  ambulance  ; 
or  he  may  be  what  army  vernacular  terms  a  "cooler"  or  a  "  boiler,"  and, 
if  fortunate  enough  to  elude  the  lynx-eyed  provost  guard,  will  shirk  ofi" 
into  a  piece  of  woods,  cook  his  pot  of  coffee  and  drink  it,  take  a  quiet 
smoke,  and  come  straggling  into  camp  a  long  time  after  the  regiment  has 
reached  it. 

For  hours  the  troops  have  been  travelling  along  a  road  which,  at  all 
points,  \vas  "a  right  smart  distance,"  "  two  screams  and  a  holler,"  or  "a 
right  smart  git"  from  the  haven  aimed  at.  Such,  at  least,  have  been  the 
answers  received  from  grinning  contrabands  and  pipe-smoking  dames 
along  the  way.  Up  hills,  down  into  valleys  and  across  brooks,  the  column 
moves,  with  the  grim  and  silent  woods  often  upon  each  side  ;  and,  although 
the  sun  sinks,  still  no  indications  of  a  halt  have  appeared. 

Sometimes  during  the  last  few  hours  of  a  march,  each  side  of  the  road 
will  be  lined  with  stragglers  whom  it  is  impossible  to  force  along  further, 
their  powers  of  locomotion  having  completely  given  out.  At  times  both 
men  and  horses  seemed  to  plod  along  mechanically,  asleep  to  everything 
but  the  fact  that  it  was  their  business  to  walk  and  cover  ground.  The 
men  would  doze  while  jogging  along,  to  be  suddenly  startled  by  a  halt,  or 
some  obstruction  in  the  road. 

Soon,  however,  straggling  orderlies,  and  perhaps  an  aid,  pass  the 
column  towards  the  rear,  and  eager  questions  are  again  asked  as  to  the 
distance  yet  to  be  traversed.  Perhaps  camp  is  only  a  mile  away,  but  a 
long  mile  it  appears  to  be,  ere  the  first  indications,  in  the  shape  of  some 
headquarter's  tent,  or  the  encampment  of  a  battery,  are  seen.  Gradually 
the  column  leaves  the  road,  brigade  after  brigade  turning  to  the  right  or 
left,  and  are  marcheu  straight  ahead, — some  into  ploughed  fields,  and 
others  into  thick  woods,  where  they  halt,  stack  arms,  break  ranks  and 
proceed  to  cook  supper.  Water  and  wood  may  be  directly  at  hand,  or 
both  may  be  half  a  mile  away.  It  is  certain  that  every  regiment  cannot  be 
in  the  same  proximity  to  these  necessities  of  a  soldier's  existence  ;  but 
even  the  growlers  are  at  length  satisfied,  or  appear  to  be,  and  in  an  hour 
the  great  bivouac  of  thousands  is  silent. 

And  this  experience  may  happen  day  after  day  upon  a  continuous 
inarch  sometimes  not  so  hard,  and  at  other  times  infinitely  more  so,  es 
pecially  when  rain  sets  in  to  drench  everybody,  convert  the  roads  into 
heavy,  sticky  clay,  and  thoroughly  spoil  every  one's  good  nature. 

Yours,  truly,  **|  *** 


A    WELCOME   TELEGRAM.  153 

March  230!  and  24th. — There  was  company  drill  in  the 
forenoon  and  afternoon.  This  caused  a  great  deal  of  grum 
bling.  As  our  time  is  so  soon  to  expire,  the  men  think  they 
have  had  enough  of  such  duty. 

On  the  25th  all  cartridges  were  taken  up,  and  fresh  am 
munition  issued.  From  this  time  till  after  the  first  of  April, 
"  base  ball  "  »vas  the  popular  amusement  in  camp,  and  a 
select  nine  from  our  regiment  played  many  games  and  re 
turn  games  with  the  32d  New  York  Regiment,  the  2/th 
winning  a  good  share  of  the  games.  This  sharp  exercise 
put  the  men  in  good  condition  after  the  winter  of  idleness 
in  their  tents  and  cabins. 

April  1 4th. — This  has  been  another  "red  letter"  clay 
with  the  regiment.  For  a  week  the  camp  has  been  in  a 
ferment  of  excitement  over  the  removal  of  Gen.  Bartlett, 
our  brigade  commander.  It  seems  that  Congress,  for  polit 
ical  reasons,  has  failed  to  confirm  his  appointment  as  Brig 
adier-General,  and  he  has  put  off  his  uniform,  and  dresses 
in  citizen's  garb.  Monday  was  the  day  on  which  he  was 
to  take  leave  of  his  old  brigade,  and  we  were  ordered  to 
turn  out  at  i  o'clock  to  bid  him  farewell ;  but  we  were  hap 
pily  disappointed.  Early  in  the  day  he  was  summoned  to 
Gen.  Hooker's  headquarters,  where  he  received  a  dispatch 
from  the  President  re-appointing  him  ;  and  at  4  o'clock  the 
brigade  was  ordered  out  to  welcome  him  back,  on  the  same 
ground  where  we  had  supposed,  only  a  few  hours  before,  we 
were  to  see  him  take  his  leave.  He  appeared  in  full  uni 
form,  and  read  the  following  telegram  :— 

"  Tell  General  Bartlett  to  put  on  his  clothes  again,  and 
return  to  his  command.  A.  LINCOLN." 

Gen.  "Joe"  then  made  a  rousing  speech,  and  said,  "he 
did  not  even  ask  for  a  confirmation.  All  he  asked  was  the 
privilege  of  leading  such  noble  and  generous  soldiers  into 
battle  once  more  !" 

He  then  rode  off,  followed  by  cheers  of  joy  from  his  vet 
eran  followers.  Had  he  not  been  returned,  it  is  a  question 
whether  the  two-years  regiments  would  have  followed  any 


CAPT.  SAMUEL  M.  HARMON,  Co.  "I." 


MKKTlMiS    HV    THK    CHRISTIAN    COMMISSION.  155 

other  leader  into  another  battle.     They  would   have  feared 
to  risk  their  reputation  in  the  hands  of  an  untried   man. 

April  3d  the  6th  Corps  was  reviewed  by  Gen.  Hooker. 
The  men  were  all  in  fine  spirits  and  expected  to  move 
soon.  There  was  another  hard  snow-storm  on  the  5th,  and 
more  or  less  rain  till  the  8th,  when  there  was  a  grand  re 
view  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  by  President  Lincoln, 
which  left  the  men  in  good  spirits  and  ready  for  a  move. 
Under  this  date,  one  diary  says:  '.*  Went  to  the  review  of 
the  army;  saw  Father  Abraham  ;  saw  Gen.  Sedgwick,  and 
several  other  great  guns." 

The  following,  from  a  diary,  tells  how  another  soldier 
spent  April  I3th:  "A  very  beautiful  day.  My  health  is 
excellent.  Regimental  inspection  at  nine  ;  general  orders 
were  read  to  the  men  relative  to  re-enlistment,  and  also  a 
part  of  the  Articles  of  War.  I  attended  service  at  White- 
Oak  Church  at  three,  and  heard  a  most  excellent  sermon 
by  a  missionary  of  the  Christian  Commission.  I  also  at 
tended  a  prayer-meeting,  on  Saturday  evening,  at  the  same 
place  ;  it  was  very  interesting.  Meetings  are  now  held  in 
the  church  every  evening,  conducted  by  the  Christian 
Commission,  and  are  well  attended.  This  is  the  hap 
piest  Sabbath  I  have  passed  in  a  long  time.  There  is  but 
little  prospect  of  moving,  yet  plenty  of  rumors.  During 
our  stay  in  the  army  we  have  made  the  acquaintance  of 
several  Mr.  Say-So's.  They  are  not  very  reliable.  News 
from  Charleston  is  very  encouraging.  This  army  is  in  good 
spirits,  and  most  of  them  ready  for  a  move." 

April  13th. — This  morning  all  the  cavalry  in  the  army 
have  broken  up  their  camps  and  arc  moving  up  the  river, 
but  we  do  not  know  their  destination.  With  a  comrade  I 
went  over  to  see  the  captive  balloon,  which  is  now  kept  up 
every  pleasant  day.  The  station  is  located  far  enough 
back  from  the  river  to  be  out  of  range  of  the  rebel  cannon. 
Two  men  usually  make  the  ascent,  equipped  with  large 
field-glasses  and  telegraph  instruments.  From  an  elevation 
of  about  two  thousand  feet  they  can  overlook  the  rebel 
works  and  telegraph  their  observations  to  headquarters. 


156  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

April  1 4th  received  orders  to  move,  and  drew  sixty 
rounds  of  ammunition  and  ten  days'  rations,  but  the 
weather  continued  stormy  and  the  contemplated  move  was 
delayed  several  days.  The  time  was  taken  up  with  reviews, 
inspection,  picket,  pay-day,  and  writing  letters,  another  of 
which  we  quote  : 

A   SOLDIER'S   LETTER. 

CAMP  OF  27'ni  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  Voi.s.,          ) 
NKAK   WHITE   OAK    CHURCH,  Va.,  — ,   1863.      j" 

DKAK  FRIEND  :— Your  letter  came  Monday  afternoon,  and  was  read 
with  the  same  pleasure  that  all  of  your  letters  give  me.  To  day  we 
are  having  One  of  your  cold  March  days.  The  ground  is  frozen  ;  a  cold 
wind  is  blowing  and  a  few  flakes  of  snow  are  flying.  .  It  is  time  for  spring, 
IHU  winter  seems  loth  to  leave  us.  We  have  had  a  few  pleasant  days,  but 
none  warmer  than  it  was  there  the  day  you  wrote.  It  is  a  mistaken  idea 
that  we  are  far  enough  south  to  enjoy  a  warm  climate.  We  have  about  the 
same  changes  and  degree  of  temperature  that  you  have  had  in  York  State. 
No  signs  of  flowers  or  vegetation  yet,  and  besides,  were  it  warm  weather, 
1  don't  believe  this  country  would  produce  a  flower,  the  land  is  so  barren 
and  poor,  except  along  the  river. 

You  wish  to  know  something  about  the  mail  arrangements  in  the  army. 
At  Washington  there  is  a  military  postoffice  where  all  the  letters  for  the 
soldiers  are  sent.  Here  they  are  sorted,  letters  for  each  division  being 
put  together.  Then  agents  bring  them  to  army  headquarters,  where  they 
are  delivered  to  the  letter-carriers  of  each  division.  These  sort  and  give 
them  to  the  brigade  carriers,  and  these  in  turn  deliver  them  to  the  head 
quarters  of  each  regiment,  and  then  they  are  sent  to  the  companies.  We 
usually  get  a  mail  every  day. 

As  to  the  camp,  it  is  a  very  interesting  picture.  Now  that  the  men  have 
built  log  huts,  it  is  more  like  a  city.  The  streets  are  regularly  laid  out. 
The  headquarters  are  a  little  distance  off,  in  a  line  with  the  main  street, 
and  the  line  officers'  tents  are  on  the  left,  fronting  the  company  streets. 
This  part  of  Virginia  is  not  hilly,  but  very  rolling. 

When  we  laid  out  this  camp,  on  the  igth  of  December,  it  was  in  a 
dense  forest  of  pine  and  cedar,  and  not  far  off  was  plenty  of  oak  timber  ; 
but  now  scarcely  a  tree  is  left  standing,  and  we  have  to  go  a  mile  and  a 
half  for  wood,  and  "  tote"  it  in  on  our  backs.  In  some  places  where  the 
trees  had  been  cut  high,  we  took  the  second  cut  off  the  stumps,  and  even 


A   SOLDIERS    LETTER.  157 

dug  out  the  stumps  where  it  was  easy  digging.  We  get  but  little  at  a 
time,  as  it  is  not  safe  to  leave  any  out-doors  at  night,  for  some  find  it  easier 
to  steal  than  tov carry  it  from  the  woods.  The  land  is  now  nicely  cleared, 
and  you  can  imagine  what  a  change  it  has  made  in  the  appearance  of  the 
country.  Citizens  returning  would  not  know  their  own  farms. 

The  roads  are  rapidly  improving  here,  and  it  is  quite  evident  that 
Gen.  Hooker  contemplates  another  move  as  soon  as  practicable.  He  has 
issued  orders  to  the  different  generals  to  procure  all  necessary  supplies, 
dispose  of  all  surplus  baggage,  and  have  their  commands  in  readiness 
to  move  at  a  day's  notice.  The  rebels  are  still  in  strong  force  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river.  We  can  plainly  see  them  at  work  on  their  fortifi 
cations.  Whether  "Joe''  intends  to  attack  them  here  again,  it  is  hard  to 
tell.  If  he  does  as  well  with  his  army  in  action  as  he  has  while  we  have 
been  in  camp,  he  will  win  for  himself  a  noble  name.  He  has  won  the 
esteem  of  all  the  army,  because  he  has  been  so  prompt  in  supplying  the 
wants  of  his  men.  Never  has  an  army  lived  better  tha:i  we  have  this 
winter.  We  have  been  content,  and  in  fact  have  enjoyed  ourselves  much 
of  the  time. 

The  question  now  uppermost  in  our  minds  is,  shall  we  return  to  the 
service  after  we  are  discharged  ?  Many  say  they  will  not  I  have  not 
fully  decided,  but  think  that  after  a  short  visit  home  I  shall  re-enlist,  and 
may  do  so  without  returning  home.  The  soldiers  are  much  pleased  with 
the  Conscription  Act,  and  think  it  will  hasten  the  end  of  the  war,  but  it 
must  make  a  great  many  squirm,  at  home.  Some,  it  seems,  talk  of  resist 
ance,  and  we  hear  that  there  are  organized  bands  to  resist  the  draft.  We 
may  have  to  come  home  and  put  them  down,  and  would  like  nothing  bet 
ter  than  to  see  the  skulkers  who  are  urging  others,  forced  to  go  them 
selves,  also  our  Northern  secessionists  ;  I  think  the  Northern  fault-finders 
might  reap  some  benefits  from  a  soldiers'  campaign.  So  let  them  come, 
we  say,  and  tell  their  friends  not  to  shed  a  tear. 

The  pressed  pansies  you  sent  me  were  the  first  bright  objects  that  have 
greeted  our  eyes  in  many  a  month.  Nothing  could  be  more  acceptable 
than  such  tokens  in  a  time  like  this.  There  seems  to  be  nothing  beautiful 
on  the  face  of  the  "  Old  Dominion  "  since  war,  with  its  devastating  heel, 
has  trampled  upon  its  "  sacred  soil." 

I  long  to  return  to  my  own  home-land,  with  all  the  attractions  and 
social  pleasures  that  it  now  affords,  and  for  the  new  ones  that  it  will  afford  ; 
for  a  brighter  day  will  soon  come,  even  for  the  South,  which  was  always 
attractive  for  its  sunny  skies,  but  uninviting  because  a  dark,  dark  spot 
has  dimmed  its  brightness.  This  shall  remove,  and  our  whole  country  be 


158  RECORD   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

held  up  to  the  world,  a  picture  bright  and  beautiful  with  attractions  that 
we  cannot  now  even  name — a  country  whose  God  is  the  Lord,  shining  as 
the  sun  and  surpassing  all  others  in  brightness.  This  is  not  a  dream,  but 
a  fulfillment,  to  accomplish  which  we  are  read)*  to  sacrifice  our  blood  upon 
the  altars  of  our  country.  And  for  this  service  we  ask  no  better  reward 
than  the  sympathy  and  support  of  friends  at  home. 
With  best  wishes,  1  remain, 


A  WOMAN'S  ANSWER. 

HOME,   April,   1863. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : — Here  I  am  again,  and  so  full  of  good  wishes  that, 
if  the  envelope  had  not  held  me  tightly  in  its  grasp,  I  should  have  scattered 
them  all  along  the  way,  among  the  blue  coats  I  passed.  But  though  that 
might  have  divided  them  among  the  many,  it  would  not  have  been  fulfill 
ing  my  errand,  so  as  I  am  safely  here,  open  me  carefully  and  take  my 
greetings, — greetings  that  come  from  one  who  loves  her  native  land  ;  who 
thinks  with  gratitude  of  the  soldiers  who  are  striving  to  defend  her  in  her 
hour  of  distraction  ;  and  whose  most  ardent  wish  is,  that  "  He  who  re- 
moveth  kings,  and  setteth  them  up,"  may  so  order  in  His  infinite  wisdom, 
that  the  summer's  sun  may  shine  o'er  a  peaceful  country, — a  country  where 
the  cannon's  roar  and  the  din  of  arms  have  ceased,  for  brothers  war  no 
more  with  brothers. 

The  beautiful  spring  has  come  once  more.  Its  balmy  breathing  air  to 
day  ;  its  warm  sunshine  seems  full  of  beauty  to  us,  after  the  winter's  cold 
breath  ;  yet  there  is  a  sadness  about  it,  for  its  gentle  bree/.es  murmur 
"  Advance  !"  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  I  wonder  if  there  is  a  stir  among 
the  camps.  God  protect  them  if  there  is,  and  shield  them  by  His  mighty 
power.  He  is  a  refuge  in  the  time  of  trouble  ;  and  how  sweet  to  be  able 
to  cast  all  our  care  on  Him,  feeling  that  Jesus  still  lives  to  intercede  for 
us,  and  that  He  will.  For  if  He  died  to  save  us,  will  He  not  plead  for 
us,  now  He  is  ascended  on  high.  "  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  for 
ever.  For  wisdom  and  might  are  His." 

How  my  thoughts  follow  the  soldiers  as  they  march  !  I  can  imagine 
them  plodding  on  ;  every  footfall  I  seem  to  notice.  Yes,  our  soldiers  go 
not  alone.  A  thousand  womanly  hearts  go  with  them,  hearts  full  of  grat 
itude  to  our  country's  preservers.  They  note  their  privations  and  know 


A  WOMAN'S  ANSWER,  159 

their  sacrifices,  and  are  hourly  dropping  prayers  arouhd  their  path.     May 
our  Heavenly  Father  heed  those  prayers  ! 

As  I  sit  down  to  my  meals,  I  wonder  if  they  are  taking  theirs  also,  and 
if  they  partake  of  a  comfortable  one.  As  I  enjoy  the  comforts  of  a  good 
home,  and  a  warm  room  at  night,  I  think  of  them  in  their  tents.  And  for 
what  are  they  there?  That  1  may  enjoy  the  comforts  of  my  quiet  home, 
undisturbed  by  the  ravages  of  foes.  And  this  is  why  I  ask  Heaven  to 
bless  them  for  their  patriotism  and  fidelity. 

Our  country  (any  country  in  war)  makes  hard  demands  of  her 
sons.  But  let  our  soldiers  glory  in  the  fact  that  they  have  the  best 
country  to  fight  for  in  the  whole  world— the  noblest  !  And  how  I  wish 
all  those  who  have  so  nobly  stood  up  for  their  country  could  see  her 
emerge  in  all  her  purity  as  the  fruit  of  their  toil  and  blood.  And  will 
they  not  see  it?  In  that  beautiful  Land  where  so  many  now  rest,  undis 
turbed  by  the  din  of  arms  or  the  cannon's  roar,  tasting  of  that  peace 
found  only  in  Heaven  above,  they  will  see.  The}-  will  look  down  upon 
the  victory  of  the  right,  and  strike  their  harps  anew  to  the  praise  of  Him 
through  whose  grace  they  conquered, — through  whose  grace  their  efforts 
became  a  blessing. 

How  sad  the  death  of  General  Sumner,  just  at  this  time  when  we  teel 
that  we  need  all  our  generals.  It  seems  to  induce  the  thought  that  our 
Father  seeks  to  draw  our  trust  from  them  to  Him.  Generals  Mitchell 
and  Sumner,  who  doubtless  looked  to  a  death  on  the  battle-field  with 
their  brave  troops,  breathed  out  their  lives  in  quiet,  with  friends  (this  was 
true  of  Gen.  Sumner  at  least)  to  attend  to  their  last  wants,  smooth  their 
dying  pillows  and  close  their  eyes  in  death.  Surely,  God  was  kind  to 
them,  and  a  Nation  now  honors  them,  and  will  love  them  none  the  less 
though  they  died  in  peace. 

We  are  looking  forward  to  the  time  when  we  can  welcome  you  again  in 
— .  Many  changes  some  of  the  boys  will  find  at  home — especially 
those  who  have  not  left  the  service  since  they  first  enlisted.  They,  too,  I 
presume,  have  changed  while  leading  their  wandering  life.  It  seems  to 
them,  no  doubt,  a  long  time,  in  looking  back  to  that  afternoon  when, 
amid  the  huzzas  of  the  multitude  and  the  tears  of  friends,  they  left  for 
the  seat  of  war.  Yes,  noble  remnant  of  the  27th,  welcome  home  again  ! 
You  went  out  to  defend  our  hearthstones  from  the  ruthless  invasion  of 
foes,  and  though  the  rebellion  is  not  yet  quelled,  we  believe  that  you  have 
done  all  that  you  could.  Fearless  and  brave  in  battle,  courageous  amid 
your  enemies,  richly  have  you  won,  at  the  expense  of  your  very  life- 
blood,  our  esteem  and  respect.  Again  I  say,  welcome  !  thrice  welcome  ! 


i6o      RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

heroes  of  Bull  Run,  and  West  Point,  and  Games'  Mill  ;  welcome  !  ye 
prisoners  from  rebel  pens;  welcome!  from  hospital,  where  the  fever's 
wild  heat  is  no  less  a  foe  to  be  dreaded  than  the  enemy's  bullets.  Come 
home  to  your  hearthstones  and  your  sires.  There's  been  a  sorrowing 
here  for  the  absent  one  ;  anxiety  that  cannot  be  told,  as  the  eager  glance 
hastily  scanned  each  account  of  battle,  fearing  your  name  would  there 
mark  the  loved  one  fallen.  Precious  dust  you  have  left  where  you  have 
been  ;  dust  we  trust  guarded  by  angels — some  by  the  water's  side,  some 
by  the  hill.  Yes,  welcome!  truly,  welcome!  Come  one,  come  all,  :md 
We'll  greet  you  kindly  home. 

Faithfully  yours,  *  *  *  * 


The  maid  who  binds  her  warrior's  sash, 

With  smile  that  well  her  pain  dissembles, 
The  while  beneath  her  drooping  lash 

One  starry  tear-drop  hangs  and  trembles. 
Though   Heaven  alone  records  the  tear, 

And   Fame  shall   never  know  her  story, 
Her  heart  has  shed  a  drop  as  dear 

As  e'er  bedewed  the  field  of  glory  ! 


The  wife  who  girds  her  husband's  sword, 

'Mid  little  ones  who  weep  and  wonder, 
And   bravely  speaks  the  cheering  word, 

What  though  her  heart  be  rent  asunder: 
Doomed  nightly  in  her  dreams  to  hear 

The  bolts  of  death  around   him  rattle,. 
Has  shed  as  sacred  blood  as  e'er 

Was  poured  upon  the  field  of  battle  ! 


The  mother  who  conceals  her  grief 

While  to  her  breast  her  son  she  presses, 
Then  breathes  a  few  brave  words  and  brief, 

Kissing  the  patriot  brow  she  blesses  ; 
With  no  one  but  her  secret  God 

To  know  the  pain  that  weighs  upon  her, 
Sheds  hoi)-  blood  as  e'er  the  sod 

Received  on   Freedom's  field  of  honor! 


THOMAS  BUCHANAN  READ. 


A  SOLDIER'S  LETTER;  i6t 

CAMP  OF  THE  27TH  REGIMENT,  N.  Y.  VOLS.,          ) 
NEAR  WHITE  OAK  CHURCH,  VA.,  April  24,  1863.    i 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : — You  see  by  my  heading  that  the  prophecy  of  the 
breezes  is  not  yet  fulfilled.  The  Army  of  th»  Potomac  is  still  in  camp  and 
likely  to  be  for  some  time  to  come,  for  the  prayers  of  the  soldiers  seem  to 
be  more  weighty  than  those  of  Gen.  Hooker,  and  in  answer  to  them  the 
rain  keeps  falling,  falling,  falling.  Many  are  rejoicing,  and  well  they 
may,  for  it  is  the  only  prayer  they  have  ever  had  answered. 

The  most  of  the  men  who  have  any  heart  in  their  work  are  tired  of 
rain  and  mud,  and  would  much  rather  be  on  the  move  and  accomplish 
something  looking  to  the  end  ;  but  every  time  "Joe"  gets  ready  to  move, 
down  comes  the  rain,  and  while  I  write,  it  is  pattering  on  the  canvas  and 
seems  to  whisper,  "Our  day  ;  no  move  ;  no  move."  We  have  had  a  few 
fine  days,  but  they  are  a  scarce  article  with  us. 

Last  Sunday,  the  most  beautiful  day  of  the  season,  we  left  camp  early 
to  go  on  picket.  Had  "grand-guard  mounting"  at  headquarters,  and  did 
not  reach  the  picket  line,  some  three  miles  distant,  till  noon.  It  was  a 
busy  Sabbath  for  us,  for  the  afternoon  was  spent  in  building  brush  huts 
for  shelter.  Early  next  morning,  as  usual,  the  rain  commenced  falling, 
and  continued  all  day,  giving  us  a  good  soaking.  You  can  imagine  how 
pleasant  it  is  sitting  in  a  brush  hut  beside  a  smoking  fire,  with  the  rain 
drops  scattering  through,  not  an  inch  of  space  that  they  do  not  fill,  and  so 
annoy  one  with  the  constant  drizzle,  driz/le,  drizzle.  Oh,  I  tell  you  it  is 
romantic  !  "Who  wouldn't  be  a  soldier?" 

The  remainder  of  our  three  days'  picket  duty  passed  pleasantly,  and 
we  are  now  snugly  quartered  in  camp.  While  out  on  this  tour,  T  went  to 
the  front  to  take  a  look  at  the  "Johnnies,"  our  quondam  friends  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  Our  picket  line  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
back  from  the  river,  while  near  the  river  is  a  line  of  videttes  or  cavalry 
pickets.  So  we  have  no  opportunity  to  converse  with  the  enemy's  pickets, 
and  besides  do  not  have  to  be  very  vigilant  while  on  post. 

The  scenery  of  the  valley  of  the  Rappahannock  from  the  point  where 
I  viewed  it  (a  high  bluff  half  a  mile  from  the  north  bank  of  the  river)  was 
with  one  exception  the  most  beautiful  I  ever  beheld.  Spread  out  before 
me  was  the  broad  plain,  its  fields  already  green  with  spring  vegetation, 
and  dotted  here  and  there  with  beautiful  mansions,  surrounded  by  the 
now  deserted  negro  quarters— the  wealthy  occupants  of  the  former  as  well 
as  the  chattels  from  the  latter,  having  fled  at  the  approach  of  the  invading 
"  Yankees"— but  from  this  distance,  these  houses  nestled  among  the 


162  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

peach-trees  now  in  full-bloom,  look  cheerful  and  inviting.  Across  the 
river  there  is  the  same  extent  of  beautiful  plain  and  the  same  indication  of 
happy  homes.  But  from  its  further  boundaries  rise  the  heights  spotted 
With  the  rebel  camps  and  smoking  with  the  rebel  fires,  every  angle  faced 
With  frowning  forts,  from  which  the  bristling  cannon  command  every 
inch  of  the  plain  below. 

Oh  !  War  !  War  !  Why  didst  thou  set  thy  devastating  foot  in  this  beau 
tiful  valley?  Why  didst  thou  pollute  these  lovely  plains  with  the  blood  of 
those  who  have  dwelt  here  securely  for  many  years?  Why  didst  thou  not 
goto  the  wilderness  and  there  satisfy  thy  cruel  greed  by  the  sacrifice  upon 
some  barren  soil,  of  the  blood  of  the  noble  and  brave?  In  vain  do  we 
question  ;  there  is  no  answer. 

Yesterday,  that  ever  welcome  visitor  to  our  (-amp,  the  paymaster,  came 
down  on  us,  and  the  boys  as  usual  are  very  happy,  and  are  singing,  "  Green 
backs  have  come  again  once  more."  Many  of  the  two  years'  men  are 
not  anxious  to  see  another  fight,  and  the  feeling  is  increasing  every  day. 
Some  claim  that  their  time  is  out  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  but  we  are  to  be 
held  until  the  2ist,  as  that  is  the  date  on  which  the  regiment  was  mus 
tered  into  the  United  States'  service.  We  have  been  ordered  to  be  in  F.l- 
mira  on  the  2ist,  and  shall  probably  leave  here  on  the  I2th  or  15th.  The 
boys  are  now  counting  the  minutes  and  seconds  that  we  have  yet  to  serve, 
and  estimating  the  number  of  hard-tack  they  have  yet  to  eat.  This  is  an 
easy  problem  in  multiplication  and  addition,  for  ten  of  these  tough  teeth- 
destroyers  generally  come  to  the  pound,  and  a  pound  is  a  daily  ration. 

Gen.  Hooker  has  been  making  some  very  mysterious  movements  of 
late,  but  what  it  all  means  it  is  hard  to  tell.  The  night  before  we  came  in 
from  picket,  a  train  of  pontoons,  numbering  thirty  boats,  was  brought  out 
near  where  we  were,  and  started  for  the  river.  The  men  said  they  had 
orders  to  lay  them  that  night,  and  that  another  train  had  gone  below. 
This  looked  like  a  move,  sure,  and  we  expected  the  next  day  would  find 
us  on  the  go  ;  but  the  train  is  still  there.  Whether  a  rebel  battery  that 
they  found  waiting  for  them,  on  the  other  side,  deterred  them  from  com 
pleting  the  plan  ;  or  whether  it  was  only  a  feint  to  deceive  the  rebs.,  is  a 
mystery  to  us.  At  any  rate,  the  enemy  found  out  the  train  was  coming  in 
time  to  get  a  battery  in  position,  near  the  river,  before  it  had  moved  two 
miles;  and  it  did  not  start  till  after  dark.  From  this  you  will  see  that 
they  keep  well  posted  as  to  any  movement  we  may  make.  The  plan  of 
crossing  the  river  here  again  does  not  suit  many  of  the  troops.  They 
prefer  to  Hank  the  rebs.,  or  siege  them  out.  The  health  of  the  troops  is 
excellent,  and  they  are  cheered  with  the  news  from  our  armies  in  the 


A  WOMAN'S  ANSWER.  163 

South  and  Southwest.  The  spirit  of  the  majority  of'  our  men  who  have 
survived  the  arduous  services  of  the  past  two  years,  is  still  unbroken,  and 
their  love  of  country  undiminished,  but  you  cannot  imagine  what  a  desire 
thev  have  to  see  home  and  friends  once  more.  Notwithstanding  this,  I 
fancy  most  of  them  will  be  back  in  the  service  again  in  less  than  six 

months. 

Yours,   truly. 


Monday,  April  2/th. — Orders  have  come  to  be  ready  to 
march  early  to-morrow  morning,  and  the  boys  are  busy 
getting  their  rations  ready.  Gen.  Bartlett  made  a  speech  to 
our  regiment  and  the  i6th,  in  regard  to  re-enlisting,  and  also 
about  our  going  into  the  next  battle,  saying  that  he  "  could 
not  leave  us  behind,  and  had  no  fears  of  our  righting  qual 
ities."  He  spoke  well,  but  the  boys  "  can't  see  the  re- 
enlist,"  at  least  till  after  we  have  been  home. 

Let  it  be  noted  here  that  the  companies  forming  the  reg 
iment  had  all  enlisted  and  been  mustered  into  the  state  ser 
vice  during  the  month  of  April,  1861,  and  all  had  expected 
that  their  two  years'  term  of  service  would  expire  during 
April,  1863,  but  the  Federal  Government  claims  to  hold  us 
for  two  years  from  the  2ist  of  May,  the  date  of' muster 
into  the  United  States  service.  This  decision  has  given 
rise  to  a  good  deal  of  discussion  among  the  men  as  to 
whether  they  should  be  taken  into  another  battle ;  but 
when  the  orders  come  to  march  we  will  not  think  of  this, 
and  are  ready  to  fight  as  cheerfully  as  we  have  ever  done. 
All  are  in  good  spirits,  and  expect  to  see  fighting,  soon. 

April  2<Sth. — At  12  o'clock  we  got  orders  to  be  under  way 
at  3  P.  M.  Packed  up  and  got  off  at  that  hour,  in  a  light 
rain-storm.  Our  division  is  to  cross  the  river  at  the  same 
place  where  we  crossed  before.  Bivouacked  about  8  o'clock, 
about  a  mile  back  from  the  river.  Were  ordered  into  line 
about  ten  o'clock,  and  the  plans  of  attack  were  read  to  us. 
Our  division  is  all  that  is  to  cross  at  this  point  at  present. 
The  pontoon  boats  are  to  be  unloaded  and  carried  down  to 
the  river  by  the  men,  as  it  is  feared  the  rattling  of  the 
wagon  train  would  be  heard  by  the  enemy.  Russell's  brig 
ade  is  to  cross  first  in  boats,  and  we  are  to  follow  them  in 


CAPT.  BURTON  FREEMAN,  Co.  I. 


CROSSING   THE    RIVER   IN   PONTOON   BOATS.  165 

boats  and  take  possession  of  the  first  two  lines  of  rifle-pits ; 
then  the  bridge  is  to  be  built,  and  the  balance  of  the  divis 
ion  is  to  come  as  a  support.  There  was  great  delay  in  get^ 
ting  the  boats  down,  and  we  did  not  reach  the  river  till  5 
o'clock,  just  at  daybreak. 

Russell's  men  immediately  embarked.  A  very  heavy 
fog  over  the  river  concealed  their  movements  until  they 
reached  the  shore,  when  they  received  a  sharp  volley  from 
the  rebel  pickets^  The  balls  came  across  and  just  over  our 
lines  as  we  stood  on  the  shore,  which  made  the  boys  lie 
down  in  a  hurry.  We  were  ordered  to  load  our  pieces,  and 
the  right  wing  of  the  i6th  was  ordered  to  fire  a  volley  high 
enough  to  pass  over  the  heads  of  our  men.  This  drove 
the  pickets  away,  and  a  landing  was  effected.  The  boats 
returned  and  were  filled  at  once,  about  forty  men  in  each 
boat.  No  sooner  did  we  start  than  the  enemy  opened  fire, 
but  we  were  packed  so  closely  in  the  boats  that  we  could 
not  return  it.  We  were  soon  across,  and  the  men  scrambled 
up  the  steep  bank  and,  engaging  them  sharply,  were  soon  in 
possession  of  their  works,  and  had  many  of  them  prisoners. 
Two  of  our  men  were  killed,  four  or  five  were  wounded,  and 
two  fell  overboard  and  were  drowned. 

The  skirmish  line  advanced  about  a  mile,  and  we  lay 
down  along  the  rifle-pits.  Several  stand  of  arms  were 
found,  which  the  Johnnies  had  thrown  away  in  their  haste. 
Two  bridges  were  soon  laid,  and  in  about  an  hour  the  whole 
division  was  over  and  deployed  in  line  of  battle. 

The  boys  feel  very  thankful  that  they  got  over  the  river 
with  so  little  loss,  as  we  expected  to  meet  a  strong  force. 
The  first  corps,  which  crossed  the  river  about  a  mile  below 
this  point,  had  a  hard  fight,  for  they  found  a  battery  wait 
ing  to  welcome  them. 

It  is  a  warm  and  beautiful  day.  Both  the  balloons  are 
up,  and  we  can  see  large  numbers  of  the  enemy  passing  to 
the  left  (their  right).  We  are  looking  for  hot  work  in  that 
direction.  All  the  plans  seem  to  be  working  well,  and  our 
men  are  in  excellent  spirits.  About  three  it  began  to  rain, 
and  we  moved  out  in  advance  of  the  rifle-pits  and  pitched 


166  RECORD   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS; 

our  tents,  where  we  remained  till  after  dark.  We  theil 
moved  back  to  the  captured  rifle-pits  again.  Then  with 
shovels^  tin  plates,  and  hands,  about-faced  the  pits,  and  lay- 
clown  in  the  mud  and  took  the  full  benefit  of  a  rain-storm 
,'ill  night; 

April  3<Dth. — A  wet,  dreary  morning.  We  were  drawn  up 
in  line,  and  mustered  as  quietly  as  though  we  had  been  in 
camp.  About  noon  we  were  ordered  into  line,  and  an  order 
from  Gen.  Hooker  was  read  to  us,  praising  the  men  for  their 
feats,  and  stating  "that  certain  results  had  been  accomplished 
by  the  5th,  nth  and  I2th  Army  Corps,  so  that  the  rebels 
would  be  obliged  to  retreat,  or  come  out  and  give  us  battle 
on  our  own  ground,  which  would  be  certain  destruction." 
This  was  very  encouraging  to  the  men,  for  they  had  had 
some  fears  that  they  were  to  be  pushed  against  the  heights, 
but  feel  perfectly  able  to  defend  themselves  if  the  enemy 
should  attack  them  on  the  plain. 

About  4  o'clock  the  rebels  commenced  shelling  our  works 
on  the  left,  and  kept  it  up  till  dark,  without  doing  much 
harm.  About  dark  we  were  ordered  on  picket,  and  advanced 
a  line  of  skirmishers  near  the  ravine  in  which  we  lay  at  the 
first  battle  of  Frcdericksburg.  The  outposts  had  to  be 
keenly  alert  all  night, — so  there  was  little  sleep.  The  enemy 
were  moving  a  great  deal  during  the  night,  and  many  con 
jectured  that  they  were  leaving ;  but  at  daylight  they  showed 
a  bold  front,  and  we  could  see  them  moving  about  on  the 
heights  in  front  of  us,  where  they  were  partly  hidden  by  the 
bushes  and  trees.  As  they  showed  no  disposition  to  fire  on 
us,  we  showed  them  the  same  respect,  and  remained  very 
quiet  all  day.  About  dark  we  were  relieved,  and  fell  back 
toward  the  river,  where  we  lay  clown  and  had  a  good 
Tii ght's  rest. 

Saturday,  May  2d. — The  weather  is  very  fine.  The  reb 
els  threw  a  few  shells  at  us  early  in  the  morning,  one  striking 
the  ground  right  in  front  of  Company  -  — ,  undermining 
some  of  the  men,  and  making  a  big  hole,  into  which  they 
were  dropped  and  half  covered  up  with  dirt.  No  one  was 
urt.  This  made  us  pack  up  lively  and  move  forward  to  a 


A    STAR    SHOT    OUT    OF   THE    FLAG.  167 

more  sheltered  position.  Soon  the  troops  on  our  left  re- 
crossed  the  river,  and  moved  off  to  the  right,  up  the  river, 
to  assist  Gen.  Hooker,  who  was  now  fighting  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  some  ten  miles  distant.  We  could  plainly 
hear  the  continual  roar  of  artillery,  and  sometimes,  when 
the  wind  was  favorable,  the  sound  of  musketry  would  reach 
us,  and  told  us  that  hard  fighting  was  going  on.  Towards 
night  more  troops  came  over  to  our  support,  and  General 
Hooker  sends  word  that  he  is  pushing  the  enemy,  and  orders 
us  to  advance.  We  expect  hard  work  to-morrow. 

May  3d. — The  column  commenced  advancing  at  daylight, 
and  the  whole  army  is  moving,  and  deploying  well  to  the 
right, — our  division  holding  the  extreme  left.  The  ball 
opened  early,  and  they  gave  us  a  good  shelling.  Our  regi 
ment  advanced  to  the  same  ravine  we  occupied  during  the 
first  battle,  on  December  I4th.  The  rebs.  had  a  battery 
that  now  commanded  the  ravine,  and  they  shelled  us  beau 
tifully.  Two  of  our  men  were  killed,  and  about  twenty 
wounded.  The  96th  Pennsylvania,  who  were  on  picket, 
were  soon  driven  in,  and  we  were  ordered  forward  to  take 
their  places.  As  soon  as  we  were  out  from  cover,  a  battery 
on  the  heights  opened  upon  us,  and  the  range  was  directly  on 
the  colors.  Most  of  the  shells  went  over,  but  one  passed 
through  the  flag,  and  cut  out  a  star,  leaving  it  whole  ;  and 
it  was  picked  up  by  the  color-bearer,  A.  L.  VanNess.  We 
hugged  the  ground  every  time  we  saw  the  flash  of  the  guns. 
None  of  our  men  were  hurt  here,  and  all  kept  very  cool. 
We  were  ordered  to  deploy,  and  advanced  near  a  hill,  where 
we  remained  till  afternoon. 

Here  Gens.  Brooks  and  Bartlett  came  up  to  the  line, 
to  reconnoitre  the  position.  They  stood  with  their  field- 
glasses  to  their  eyes,  and  though  the  shells  were  bursting  all 
around  them,  not  a  muscle  was  seen  to  move  ;  while  staff 
and  line  officers  were  hugging  the  ground  or  trying  to  dodge 
the  shells.  To  the  coolness  of  such  leaders  may  be  attrib 
uted  the  bravery  and  steadiness  of  many  a  regiment  in  the 
division. 

On  this  line,  the  left  of  the  regiment  was  greatly  annoyed 


LIEUT.  HENRY  HANINGTON,  Co.  "  K. 


STORMING  MARY'S  HEIGHTS.  169 

by  a  rebel  sharp-shooter,  who,  posted  in  a  tall  tree  to  our 
left,  kept  up  a  regular  fire,  killing  one  man — Charles  A. 
Hosmer,  of  Co.  u  E  " — and  wounding  several  others.  The 
men  were  more  uneasy  under  the  fire  of  this  one  man  than 
all  the  rebel  batteries  on  the  heights.  Finally  a  detail  of  a 
few  men  crept  up  in  range  of  his  position,  and  he  was  soon 
wounded  and  brought  down  from  his  lofty  station. 

From  our  position  we  had  a  splendid  view  of  the  fighting 
on  the  right,  where  our  men  were  advancing  on  the  heights 
back  of  Fredericksburg.  About  1 1  o'clock  the  cannonading 
was  perfectly  terrific.  Our  men  advanced  rapidly,  and  soon 
the  first  line  of  works  was  carried.  Then  on  went  the  boys 
up  the  hill,  regardless  of  the  terrible  shower  of  iron  hail  that 
welcomed  them.  Soon  one  of  our  shells  blew  up  a  caisson 
in  one  of  their  forts,  and  apparently  used  them  up, — for 
they  soon  began  to  skedaddle  ;  and,  presently,  the  old  flag 
waved  upon  every  fort.  Their  guns  were  turned  upon  them, 
and  on  pressed  our  lines,  and  kept  them  moving.  Our  men, 
going  to  the  right  and  moving  along  the  plank  road,  ad 
vanced  a  mile  or  more.  The  troops  on  the  plain  were  then 
ordered  to  withdraw,  our  regiment  bringing  up  the  rear, 
with  one  company  deployed  as  skirmishers.  We  moved  up 
the  river  into  Fredericksburg,  the  rebels  following  us  right 
in, — our  men  feeling  all  the  time  that  it  was  a  great  mistake 
to  take  us  all  from  the  valley,  and  allow  the  enemy  to  come 
in  our  rear.  We  passed  through  the  city,  and  up  the  heights, 
by  the  plank  road,  which  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and  the 
wounded,  showing  the  bitter  struggle  that  had  taken  place 
for  the  possession  of  Mary's  Heights.  We  passed  the  for 
tifications,  and  Gen.  Bartlett  rushed  his  brigade  past  all  the 
other  troops,  and,  about  three  miles  from  the  city,  came  up 
with  the  enemy,  near  Salem  Church,  where  he  had  a  furious 
struggle  with  them,  and  was  obliged  to  retire  ;  but  another 
line  coming  up,  the  enemy  was  driven  back. 

We  did  not  get  up  in  time  to  take  part  ;  but  the  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade  lost  terribly.  We  were  drawn  up 
across  the  way  to  stop  stragglers ;  and  as  the  broken  lines 
came  back,  they  were  re-formed  in  front  of  us. 


I/O  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOT,S. 

Night  soon  set  in  and  the  firing  ceased,  when  we  lav- 
down  and  had  a  good  night's  rest.  As  the  slaughter  had 
been  terrible,  the  stretcher  bearers  were  busy  all  night  car 
ing  for  the  wounded,  and  as  we  lay  there  behind  our  stacks 
of  guns  we  could  hear  the  grinding  of  the  ambulance 
wheels,  as  they  moved  back  and  forth  filled  with  their 
bleeding  and  suffering  burdens.  The  dead  were  left  on  the 
field. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  official  Confederate 
•  Reports  relative  to  this  battle  at  Salem  Church,  will  illus 
trate  Gen.  Bartlett's  vigorous  style  of  fighting : 

After  shelling  the  woods  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  a  shorl  time, 
the  Union  troops  advanced.  A  brisk  skirmish  ensued.  The  Confeder 
ate  skirmishers  were  pushed  back  to  the  woods,  and  then  upon  the  line  of 
battle.  The  Federal  line  followed  quickly.  Reaching  the  edge  of  tin- 
woods  thev  gave  a  cheer  and  rushed  forward  to  the  charge.  On,  on  they 
came,  to  within  eighty  yards  of  the  opposing  line.  Here  they  received 
the  Confederate  tire,  which  had  been  reserved.  Well  directed  and  at 
close  quarters,  its  effect  is  terrible.  A  scene  of  carnage  presents  itself. 
The  line  wavers  under  the  witheiing  fire,  but  it  is  only  for  a  moment. 
Hartlett  dashes  on.  He  surrounds  the  school-house  and  captures  the  gar 
rison.  Then  pushing  forward  to  the  line  in  the  rear,  he  delivers  all  the 
impetus  of  his  attack  on  the  regiment  stationed  there.  It  wavers,  yields, 
breaks.  A  little  further  on,  and  the  victory  had  been  won.  Wilcox  has  a 
regiment  djth  Alabama)  in  reserve  just  behind  this  part  of  his  line.  In  a 
moment  he  hurls  this  upon  the  advancing  troops.  The  Alabamians  de 
liver  a  deadly  fire,  at  close  quarters,  and  rush  forward  to  gain  what  hail 
been  lost.  Gallantly  does  Barllett  strive  to  hold  the  advantage  won  at 
such  a  cost.  A  fierce  struggle,  and  in  turn  the  Federal  line  gives  way. 
No  time  is  allowed  it  to  rally.  Wilcox  follows  closely,  increasing  at  each 
step  the  carnage  in  the  Federal  ranks.  The  school-house  is  reached. 
The  captured  garrison  is  set  free,  and  some  of  their  captors  are  in  turn 
captives.  On  the  other  side  of  the  wood,  the  attack,  which  was  not  vig 
orous,  has  also  been  repulsed.  ""  *  Wilcox  has  lost  in  his  brigade 
between  three  and  four  hundred  men.  Hartlett,  whose  brigade  has  been 
principally  opposed  to  him,  has  seven  hundred  men  Jwrs  du  combat. 

Our  regiment  being  on  skirmish  duty,  bringing  up  the 
rear,  Gen.  Hartlett  made  the  charge  alluded  to,  with  his 


COVERING   THE    RETREAT   TO    BANKS    FORD.  I/T 

three  remaining  regiments,  numbering  1440  muskets,  of 
which  he  lost  260.  But  he  had  broken  two  lines  of  battle 
and  penetrated  the  enemy's  centre,  and  would  have  main 
tained  himself  there,  except  for  the  reason  given  by  the 
Confederate  historian,  in  the  following  sentence  :  "  On  the 
other  side  of  the  wood,  the  attack,  which  was  not  vigorous, 
had  already  been  repulsed." 

Monday,  May  4th,  at  4  A.  M.,  we  were  called  in  line  and 
stood  until  daylight.  We  then  cooked  breakfast,  and  soon 
after  moved  off  to  a  ravine.  During  the  night  the  enemy 
had  moved  around  our  left  and  into  the  rear,  giving  us  a 
warm  morning  salute  from  the  left.  We  were  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  facing  the  left,  and  our  regiment  was  de 
ployed  as  skirmishers  and  advanced  towards  the  enemy's 
lines.  There  was  picket  firing  all  day,  our  boys  holding  their 
ground  till  near  night,  when  they  were  forced  back  a  short 
distance.  Soon  on  came  the  enemy,  in  line  of  battle,  when 
the  battery  in  our  rear  opened  on  them  with  several  rounds 
of  grape  and  canister,  and  their  line  broke  in  great  disorder. 
They  had  now  gotten  so  far  to  our  rear,  and  were  holding  all 
the  forts  on  the  hill  that  we  had  taken  from  them,  and  were 
pressing  us  from  three  sides :  it  became  evident  that  we 
would  have  to  retire  from  the  field.  At  dark  we  were 
ordered  to  fall  back  up  the  river  in  the  direction  of  Banks' 
Ford.  Our  regiment  still  being  on  the  skirmish  line  in 
rear  of  the  corps,  fell  back  fighting  as  we  went.  The  front 
rank  would  fall  back  while  the  rear  would  load  and  fire, 
then  the  rear  rank  would  pass  to  the  rear  of  the  front  rank. 
While  executing  this  movement,  Corp.  -  — ,  of  Co.  D., 
loaded  three  or  four  charges  into  his  gun,  and  when  he  had 
discovered  his  mistake,  he  was  afraid  to  fire,  but  one  of  the 
sergeants  ordered  him  to  fall  behind  the  line  a  little  and  fire 
his  piece,  which  he  did  without  harm  to  his  musket.  An 
other  man  put  the  ball  into  his  gun  without  powder.  When 
he  discovered  his  mistake  he  sat  down,  took  the  screw  out 
of  the  tumbler,  put  in  powder,  blew  out  the  ball,  and 
though  the  balls  of  the  enemy  were  flying  around  him,  de 
liberately  loaded  his  gun,  turned  and  fired  on  the  advancing 


172  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT    N.  Y.  VOLS. 

foe,  then  ran  and  overtook  his  company.  In  this  way  we 
fell  back  two  or  three  miles,  firing  at  the  flash  of  the  ene 
my's  guns.  We  then  rallied  and  formed  regimental  line, 
having  lost  in  the  retreat  one  killed  and  one  wounded.  It 
being  very  warm  and  the  men  weak  from  continual  duty, 
the  rapid  march  soon  began  to  tell,  and  some  of  them,  to 
save  themselves,  were  obliged  to  throw  off  their  knapsacks 
and  all  of  their  load.  Coming  up  to  the  rifle-pits  near  the 
ford,  a  line  of  battle  was  formed  and  we  lay  down,  waiting 
for  the  balance  of  the  corps  to  cross  the  river.  The  rebs. 
kept  shelling  us  all  night,  trying  to  get  their  range  on  the 
pontoon  bridge.  We  could  trace  the  curve  of  the  shells  by 
the  lighted  fuse.  Very  little  harm  was  done  by  these 
shells.  We  expected  the  enemy  would  advance  on  us 
every  moment,  and  it  was  a  night  of  anxious  suspense. 
Still,  if  the  shells  did  not  burst  too  near,  the  men  would 
fall  asleep  from  sheer  exhaustion. 

About  three  or  four  o'clock  we  again  commenced  to 
retire,  and  were  safely  across  the  river  before  the  rebels 
came  up.  As  we  reached  the  shore,  the  first  words  we 
heard  were  :  "  27th,  where  did  you  come  from  ?  I  expected 
to  hear  from  you  at  Richmond."  "Ah,  General,  our  legs 
were  too  long  for  them,"  we  replied.  It  seems  that  we  had 
been  left  far  in  the  rear,  to  cover  the  retreat,  with  the  ex 
pectation  that  the  whole  regiment  would  be  obliged  to  sur 
render  on  the  best  terms  it  could. 

The  conduct  of  the  27th  in  going  into  this  fight,  after 
its  time  was  nominally  out,  is  a  record  of  which  every 
man  may  well  be  proud  ;  and  it  will  go  down  to  later 
generations  as  a  noble  sacrifice.  Whatever  credit  may 
be  given  this  regiment  for  former  services,  everything 
dwarfs  in  the  light  of  this  crowning  act  of  its  history — 
"  Obeying  orders  to  move  against  the  enemy,  when,  in  jus 
tice,  they  should  have  been  on  their  way  home." 

We  marched  back  about  a  mile  from  the  river  and  went 
into  camp  —  a  thoroughly  used-up  army.  The  men  are 
very  much  chagrined  at  having  to  give  up  a  position  they 
had  gained  so  gallantly.  Again  they  feel  that  they  have 


GEN.    HOOKER    HELD    BY    A    SKIRMISH    LINE.  173 

been  made  the  dupes  of  bad  generalship.  Had  Gen.  Sedg- 
\vick  been  content  to  have  stopped  in  the  works  on  the  top 
of  the  hill,  he  could  have  held  them  against  all  their  forces, 
and  now  been  in  possession  of  the  heights  and  the  city(?) 
As  it  is,  we  have  accomplished  nothing ;  or,  rather,  have 
lost  all  that  we  did  accomplish.  It  seems  to  be  one  of  the 
most  foolish  blunders  of  the  war.  All  our  wounded  have 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  above  strictures  on  the  generalship  of  our  corps  com 
mander,  Gen.  Sedgwick,  are  from  the  diary  of  a  private  sol 
dier.  We  did  not  then  know  that  Gen.  Sedgwick  was  acting 
under  positive  orders  from  Gen.  Hooker,  which  were  :  "  That 
he  should  carry  the  heights,  and  then  immediately  push  on 
to  join  Hooker  at  Chancellorsville,  and  strike  Lee  in  the 
rear."  This  Sedgwick  attempted  to  do  ;  and  had  Hooker 
engaged  Lee  on  the  4th,  instead  of  being  held  by  a  strong 
skirmish  line,  and  allowing  Lee  to  bring  the  bulk  of  his 
army  over  and  hurl  it  upon  the  6th  Corps,  the  result  would 
have  been  far  different. 

It  is  now  thought  that  Gen.  Hooker  will  be  able  to  hold 
his  ground  on  the  right,  and  probably  we  shall  go  to  rein 
force  him,  but  are  not  able  to  march  to-day. 

May  5th. — The  rebels  kept  throwing  shells  at  us  all  day, 
but  we,  having  become  quite  used  to  them,  don't  mind  them. 
We  are  looking  anxiously  for  news  from  the  right.  We 
have  heard  but  little  fighting  there  to-day,  and  still  hope 
for  success.  God  grant  that  we  may  not  be  repulsed  again. 
Our  loss  has  been  heavy — 622  in  our  brigade. 

May  6th. — Very  stormy,  cold  and  disagreeable.  Hooker's 
army  is  now  passing  back,  having  re-crossed  the  river  last 
night.  So  we  are  again  defeated,  and  have  left  a  lot  of 
spoil  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  fighting  at  Chancel 
lorsville  has  been  terrible,  but  Gen.  Hooker  was  not  enough 
for  them.  Our  cause  looks  dark,  but  we  are  not  in  the 
least  discouraged.  There  must  be  a  different  plan  of  oper 
ations.  Our  forces  should  be  concentrated  more,  and  should 
use  the  spade.  Had  we  commenced  a  siege,  after  crossing 
the  river,  we  could  have  driven  them  off,  and  not  have  lost 


MAJOR-GEN.  JOHN  SEDGWICK, 


GEN.  HOOKER  AS  CONFEDERATE  QUARTERMASTER.    175 

HO  many  men.     The  troops  are  calling  vehemently  for  little 
Mac,  again, — and  would  that  we  had  him  back  ! 

Most  of  the  troops  are  moving  back  into  their  old  camps; 
and  we  shall  probably  move  soon.  We  are  camped  he' re  in 
great  confusion,  and  hardly  know  where  we  are. 

May  /th. — The  men  are  getting  well  rested,  and  are  ready 
for  another  move.  We  have  seen  quite  a  number  of  Gen. 
Hooker's  men,  and  they  say  they  were  repulsed  and  obliged 
to  retreat.  Dr.  H—  — ,  of—  -  regiment,  gave  us  quite 
a  description  of  the  battle.  He  says  he  is  sick  of  fighting. 
The  loss  on  both  sides  is  heavy.  It  is  dark !  dark  ! !  dark  !  ! ! 
Still  the  men  keep  cheerful,  and  the  army  will  soon  be  on  a 
good  footing  again. 

The  enemy  appears  to  be  very  quiet.  We  took  a  walk 
down  to  the  river,  and  could  plainly  see  them  and  their 
camps,  on  the  other  side.  Many  of  them  are  dressed  in 
blue  clothes,  and  they  feel  very  jubilant  over  their  victory, 
and  rejoice  over  the  spoils  they  have  taken.  They  say, 
"  they  have  got  a  new  quartermaster-general — Joe  Hooker !' 
It  is  a  good  joke,  and  too  true. 

May  8th. — Got  the  order  to  pack  up  early,  and  started 
back  for  our  old  camp,  where  we  arrived  about  2  o'clock, 
taking  possession  of  our  old  quarters.  We  found  them 
about  as  we  left  them,  except  half  full  of  water, — which 
we  soon  bailed  out,  put  up  our  tents,  and  were  "  at  home" 
once  more.  Some  of  us  had  to  take  in  a  comrade  from  the 
number  of  those  who  had  thrown  away  their  blankets  and 
tents,  on  the  hurried  retreat.  For  a  few  days  we  remained 
quietly  in  camp,  performing  the  usual  duties.  On  the  nth^ 
the  i6th  New  York  started  for  home.  That  made  us  feel 
very  lonesome,  as  we  had  always  camped  beside  each  other, 
and  had  seemed  more  like  one  regiment  than  two  distinct 
commands ;  and  were  always  ready  to  support  each  other 
in  action.  For  the  next  four  days  we  made  our  farewell 
calls  among  the  regiments  where  we  had  acquaintances. 
Camp  life  seemed  very  dull,  as  our  minds  were  fully  occu 
pied  with  the  thoughts  of  home. 


1/6  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

On  the  1 4th,  at  evening  parade,  the  following  special  or 
ders  were  read  to  us  : 

HEADQUARTERS  SIXTH  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
May  13,   1863.  j 

Special  Orders  No,   120. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  2yth  New  York  Volunteers  having  expired, 
they  will  proceed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  the  place  of  enrollment,  where  they 
will  be  mustered  out  of  service. 

Upon  arrival  there,  their  arms,  equipments  and  public  property  will  be 
turned  in  to  the  proper  officers.  The  Quartermaster's  Department  will 
furnish  transportation  from  Falmouth. 

The  general  commanding  the  corps  congratulates  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  2yth  New  York  Volunteers  upon  their  honorable  return  to  civil  life. 
They  have  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  their  companions  and 
commanders.  They  have  illustrated  their  term  of  service  by  gallant  deeds, 
and  have  won  for  themselves  a  reputation  not  surpassed  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  have  nobly  earned  the  gratitude  of  the  republic. 

By  command  of  Major-Gen.  Sedgwick. 

M.   T.   McMAHON,   A.   A.   General. 


HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION,  SIXTH  CORPS,  ) 
May   14,    1863.  j 

Special  Orders  No  55. 

In  taking  leave  of  the  2yth  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers,  the 
Brigadier-General  commanding  the  division  is  happy  to  be  able  to  wi'tness 
to  their  soldierly  qualifications  and  general  good  conduct.  Their  action 
in  the  late  campaign,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rap pahan nock,  will  be  a 
proud  record  for  every  officer  and  man  to  cany  to  his  home.  Their  record 
is  said  in  a  few  words  — "  You  did  your  duty  !"  and  did  it  to  the  satisfac 
tion  of  your  commanders. 

By  order  of  Brigadier-General   Brooks. 

A.   K.   PARSONS, 

A.  A.  A.  General. 


GEN.  KARTLETT'S  FAREWELL  ORDER.  177 

HDQRS.  2D  BRIGADE,  IST  DIVISION,  6-ni  ARMY  CORPS,       \ 
ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC — NEAR  WHITE  OAK  CHURCH,  Va.,    - 

May  12,   1863. 
Special  Order  No.  46. 

The  term  of  enlistment  of  the  27th  New  York  Volunteers  having 
nearly  expired,  they  are  ordered  to  proceed  to  their  rendezvous,  at  El- 
mira,  N.  V.,  to  be  mustered  out  of  service  of  the  United  States,  on  the 
2 ist  day  of  May. 

This  order  severs  other  connections  than  those  which  bound  the  regi^- 
ment  to  the  military  service.  Two  years  of  honorable  and  distinguished 
service  have  made  you  soldiers. 

After  the  fall  of  your  gallant  and  distinguished  colonel,  I  commanded 
you  in  the  first  battle  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  I  have  led  you  through 
all  of  its  subsequent  campaigns,  and  have  participated  with  you  in  a  do/en 
battles.  I  now  send  you  to  the  quiet  haunts  of  peace,  with  the  blood  of 
the  enemy  upon  your  honored  old  flag  scarce  yet  dry.  In  separating  from 
you,  I  can  only  give  you  my  assurance  that  the  honor  of  the  regiment  has 
ever  been  my  care.  Our  connection  has  been  one  of  love,  cemented  by 
your  bravery  and  noble  deeds  ;  and  in  its  severance  I  believe  the  regret  to 
be  mutual.  I  have  always  relied  upon  you  in  even'  emergency,  and  you 
have  responded  with  true  heroism.  You  leave  brave  comrades  behind 
you,  stretched  in  death,  upon  all  our  battle-fields.  You  bear  with  you 
the  grateful  feeling  that  you  have  avenged  them.  In  the  history  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  no  prouder  record  it'ill  be  inscribed  t/iau  vour  own. 

I  hope  to  see  the  standard  of  your  regiment  once  more  raised.  I  hope 
again  to  command  you  :  till  then,  farewell  !  And  may  God,  in  His  infi 
nite  mercv,  bless  each  and  all  of  you. 

JOS.   J.    BARTLETT, 

Brigadier-General,  Commanding. 

After  the  orders  were  read,  Gens.  Slocum  and  Bartlett 
made  short  addresses  to  the  men  ;  and  when  the  parade  was 
dismissed,  we  gave  them  three  cheers — the  stoutest  of  the 
whole  term  of  service. 

At  3  A.  M.,  on  the  I5th,  the  drums  sounded  the  reveille, 
and  at  5  we  were  packed  up  and  on  our  way  to  Falmouth. 
The  different  regiments  of  our  brigade  turned  out  to  bid  us 
good-by,  and  as  we  said  adieu  to  these  weather-beaten  vet 
erans,  we  heartily  wished  the  war  was  over,  and  that  we 
were  all  going  home  together.  Arriving  at  Falmouth,  we 


178  RECORD    OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

quickly  boarded  the  cars,  and  a  short  run  took  us  to  Aquia 
Creek,  where  we  were  soon  on  board  a  steamer  bound  for 
Washington.  About  dark  we  reached  the  capital  and  were 
quartered  in  the  Soldier's  Retreat.  The  next  day  we  spent 
in  Washington,  strolling  about  the  city,  until  about  5  P.  M., 
When  we  took  the  cars  for  Baltimore,  where  we  unloaded  to 
change  cars,  and  remained  the  rest  of  the  night. 

Sunday,  May  1 7th.— At  daylight  we  started  and  ran  very 
slowly ;  passed  Harrisburg  about  noon  ;  reached  Williams- 
port  between  4  and  5  P.  M.;  made  a  short  stop,  and  arrived 
at  Elmira  about  midnight.  Left  the  cars  and  slept  until 
morning  on  the  platform  of  the  depot. 

The  next  morning  we  marched  to  the  barracks,  but  find 
ing  them  very  dirty,  most  of  the  men  took  board  in  private 
families.  The  three  companies  from  Binghamton  were  met 
at  Elmira  by  a  delegation  of  citizens  and  tendered  an  invi 
tation  to  receive  the  hospitality  of  the  city.  The  invita 
tion  was  accepted.  We  remained  in  Elmira  till  June  5th, 
when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out,  and  we  received  our 
discharge,  pay,  and  a  bounty  of  $100,  having  been  in  the 
service  two  years  and  twenty-eight  days.  Thus  the  2/th 
disappeared  from  the  scene. 

We  broke  ranks  forever,  and  our  record  passed  into 
history.  But  few  of  our  men,  however,  resumed  their 
positions  in  civil  life.  Nearly  every  man  was  fit  to  com 
mand  a  regiment,  and  felt  that  if  his  services  as  a  recruit 
had  been  valuable  to  his  government,  as  a  veteran  they 
would  be  doubly  so  now,  and  after  a  few  weeks'  rest,  we 
find  that  nearly  every  man  who  was  able-bodied  had  re- 
entered  the  service  and  was  again  found  fighting  the  battles 
of  his  country.  This  regiment  furnished  a  large  number  of 
the  officers  and  many  of  the  men  of  that  fine  regiment,  the 
ist  New  York  Veteran  Cavalry. 

To  write  the  subsequent  history  of  all  the  27th  men, 
we  would  have  to  follow  them  into  every  army  and  on  to 
nearly  every  battle-field  of  the  war.  When  we  say  that 
these  men,  after  the  experience  they  had  had,  enduring  the 
hardships,  sufferings  and  dangers  through  which  \ve  have 


GOOD-BY   TO   THE    2/TH.  179 

followed  them,  RE-ENLISTED,  we  have  said  enough  for  a 
lifetime  in  their  praise.  The  2/th  was  indeed  a  noble  bat 
talion,  one  which  won  alike  the  compliments  of  its  gener 
als  and  the  confidence  of  its  associate  regiments.  During 
and  since  the  war  great  esprit  de  corps  has  characterized  its 
soldiers.  Many  of  them  have  attained  to  prominence  in  the 
walks  of  peaceful  life,  to  the  great  rejoicing  of  their  com 
rades,  and  many  have  made  their  final  march.  God  give 
them  rest  in  peace  ! 

THE    REGIMENTAL  FLAG. 

The  flag  of  the  2/th  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers 
was  the  army  regulation  flag  for  infantry  regiments,  and  was 
made  of  heavy  silk,  with  bullion  fringe,  and  handsomely 
mounted  on  a  staff.  The  flag  was  first  the  property  of 
Company  "  I,"  which  was  recruited  by  Capt.  C.  C.  Gardiner, 
at  Angelica  ;  and  was  presented  to  the  company  by  Mrs. 
Church,  widow  of  the  late  Hon.  Philip  Church,  of  Belvi- 
dere,  near  Angelica,  through  her  son,  Mr.  Richard  Church. 
On  the  27th  of  June,  1861,  Company  "  I  "  presented  the 
flag  to  the  regiment,  at  Elmira,  and  it  was  carried  gallantly 
and  without  dishonor,  through  the  two  years'  term  of  the 
regiment.  The  flag  was  many  times  struck  by  the  enemy's 
shot,  and  large  holes  were  made  by  fragments  of  shell. 
After  the  muster  out,  it  was  deposited,  by  the  late  Col.  A. 
D.  Adams,  in  the  Bureau  of  Military  Record,  in  the  Capitol 
at  Albany,  and  with  it  is  the  following  record  :— 

"The  Regiment  was  organized  at  Elmira,  May  21  st,  1861  ; 
from  companies  raised  in  Binghamton,  Angelica,  Lyons, 
Mt.  Morris,  White  Plains,  Lima,  Albion  and  Rochester; 
and  entered  the  field  commanded  by  Col.  H.  W.  Slocum. 
The  Regiment  received  the  flag  from  Co.  "  I,"  Capt.  C.  C. 
Gardiner,  June  2/th,  1861.  This  Company  had  previously 
been  presented  with  the  flag  by  Mrs.  Philip  Church.  It  has 
been  borne  in  the  battles  of  First  Bull  Run,  West  Point, 
Mechanicsville,  Games'  Mill,  Goldsborough's  Farm,  Charles 
City  Cross  Roads,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Malvern  Hill,  Sec- 


i8o 


RECORD  OF  2/TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 


FLAG  OF  THE  27TH  REGIMENT. 


ond  Bull  Run,  Crampton's  Pass,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
and  Fredericksburg  Heights.  The  first  bearer  was  Sergt. 
Burton  Freeman,  of  Co.  "  I,"  who  was  afterwards  promoted 
to  be  Captain  of  his  Company.  At  First  Bull  Run  two 
Corporals  were  severely  wounded  on  either  side  of  the 
Color-Bearer.  At  Games'  Mill  the  Color-Bearer  was  se 
verely  wounded.  At  Fredericksburg  Heights,  the  star 
now  appended  to  the  staff  was  literally  shot  out  of  the  flag 
by  a  shell.  The  Color-Bearer  in  that  assault,  A.  L.  Van- 
Ness,  of  Co.  "  H,"  contributed  it  to  the  Bureau.  Col.  A. 
D.  Adams  transmitted  the  flag,  after  the  expiration  of  the 
Regiment's  term  of  service,  to  this  Bureau." 


A   (IRANI)    WAR    POEM.  l8l 


Battle-Hymn  of  the  Republic. 


Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord  : 
He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  his  grapes  of  wrath  are  stored 
He  hath  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  his  terrible,  swift  sword  : 
His  truth  is  marching  on. 


I  have  seen  Him  in  the  watch-fires  of  a  hundred  circling  camps  ; 
They  have  builded   Him  an  altar  in  the  evening  dews  and  damps  ; 
I  can  read  his  righteous  sentence  by  the  dim  and  flaring  lamps  : 
His  dav  is  marching  on. 


I  have  read  a  fiery  gospel,  writ  in  burnished  rows  of  steel  : 
As  ye  deal  with  my  contemners,  so  with  you   my  grace  shall   de; 
Let  the  Hero,  born  of  woman,  crush  the  serpent  with  his  heel, 
Since  God   is  marching  on. 


He  has  sounded  forth  the  trumpet  that  shall  never  call  retreat  ; 
He  is  sifting  out  the  hearts  of  men  before  his  judgment-seat  ; 
Oh  !   be  swift,  my  soul,  to  answer  Him  !    be  jubilant,  my  feet  ! 
Our  God   is  marching  on. 


In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies,  Christ  was  born  across  the  sea, 
With  a  glory  in  his  bosom  that  transfigures  you  and  me  ; 
As   He  died  to  make  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 
While  God  is  marching  on. 

— JHI.IA  WARD  HOWE. 


VI. 

TEN  MONTHS  IN  REBELDOM— NOTES  FROM  THE  DIARY 
OF  A  BULL  RUN  PRISONER,  AT  RICHMOND,  VA.,  NEW 
ORLEANS,  LA.,  AND  SALISBURY,  N.  C. 

u  . 

l\    SOLDIER  of  tlic  legion  lay  dying  at  Algiers  : 

There  was  lack  of  woman's  nursing — there  was  dearth  of  woman's  tears; 
But  a  comrade  stood  beside  him,  while  the  life-blood  ebbed  away, 
And  bent,  with  pitying  glance,  to  hear  each  word  he  had  to  say. 
The  dying  soldier  faltered,  as  he  took  that  comrade's  hand, 
And  said,  I  never  more  shall  see  my  own,  my  native  land  ; 
Take  a  message  and  a  token  to  some  distant  friends  of  mine, 
For  I  was  born  at  Bingen,  at  Bingen  on  the  Rhine." 

These  few  lines  form  a  fitting  prelude  to  the  following 
record.  This  pathetic  story  of  the  dying  boy,  among  stran 
gers  of  an  unknown  tongue,  has  drawn  tears  to  the  eyes  of 
many  a  reader  ;  but  it  was  reserved  for  the  direr  shock  of 
later  years  to  bring  them  to  us  in  fearful  realization.  The 
clash  of  arms  came,  and  it  was  the  duty  of  every  man  to 
take  up  the  task  assigned  him,  and  help  to  save  the  Nation. 
But  think  what  a  sacrifice  our  soldiers  made  in  leaving 
their  pleasant  homes,  as  most  of  them  did,  at  an  age  when 
the  desire  to  live  is  strongest  in  the  human  heart,  and  know 
ing  that  there  were  included  in  the  terms  of  their  contract, 
all  the  incidents  of  war, — the  danger,  privation,  disease, 
wounds,  imprisonment  and  death  ;  and  that  they  must  be 
prepared  for  any  and  all  of  these  things.  Yet  voluntarily, 


1 84  RECORD   OF   27TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

aye,  even  cheerfully  and  joyfully,  they  accepted  these  con 
ditions,  took  their  lives  in  their  hands,  and  baring  their 
young  breasts,  made  them  a  living  rampart  between  their 
homes  and  the  enemies  of  freedom. 

A  few  have  returned,  but  many  went  down  to  death  in 
the  midst  of  the  thunder  and  the  wreck  of  battle,  or  in  the 
prison  pen,  or  in  the  hospital,  far  away  from  home  and 
friends  and  help.  In  almost  every  household  throughout 
the  land,  there  are  saddened  memories  of  these  dreadful 
prisons  ;  and  if  the  cause  for  which  so  many  sacrifices  were 
made — which  so  many  died  in  prison  to  perpetuate — was 
worth  suffering  for,  are  not  the  scenes  through  which  they 
passed  worthy  of  commemoration  and  remembrance  in  the 
hearts  of  their  fellow-countrymen?  Justice  to  the  living 
who  suffered,  impartial  history,  and  the  martyred  dead, 
demand  a  full  record  by  survivors  of  these  horrors.  For 
this  purpose,  this  chapter  is  added  to  our  history. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  names  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  men  who  were  in  the  Richmond  prisons,  up  to 
October,  1861,  most  of  them  having  been  captured  at  the 
first  Bull  Run  battle  : 

Co.  "A"  --Eli  Barrett,  John  Chamberlain,  *  Charles 
Demorest,  Thomas  Smith. 

Co.   "  B  "—A.   H.  Crannell. 

Co.  "C'  —George  VV.  F.  Fanning,  George  W.  Dunn, 
*F.  Durand,  Eugene  M.  Davis,  William  Vanalstine,  *John 
Boyden,  *C.  F.  Yenney,  *f  G.  M  .Andrews,  William  Barnes, 
^George  Butler. 

Co.  "D"— Charles  W.  Platt,  *f  Cyrus  Pardee,  *f  James 
V.  Snedaker,  Wm.  Trail,  John  H,  Hogan,  *  James  Coon, 
James  McCauley,  *  S.  A.  McKune,  *  William  Sampson, 
C.  B.  Fairchild. 

Co.  "E"—*  William  H.Merrill,  -William  E.  Hanlon, 
M.  McGetrick,  *John  T.  Clague. 


*  Indicates  those  who  were  wounded. 
f  Indicates  those  who  died  in  prison. 


HOW    WE   WERE   CAPTURED.  1 8$ 

Co.  "F" —  Edgar  II.  Warner,  Reuben  A.  Wright, 
N.  A.  Corson,  Wm.  VanValkenburg,  Edwin  M.  Watrous, 
T.  M.  Yates,  John  Kcarn. 

Co.  "G" — A.  II.  Hunt,  +  Armenius  M.  Hunt,  Tyler  J. 
Briggs,  Wm  Hall,  *  Gardner  W.  Agard,  *  Edwin  E.  Bond, 
*J.  Butler,  *  Solomon  Wood,  William  Mileham,  John 
Merritt. 

Co.  "  H  "— Harlan  Boyd,  Geo.  Stout,  Wm.  W.  Aplin, 
James  Donahue,  *f  Joseph  R.  Johnson,  ~*  William  Welch, 
C.  H.  Hunt,  William  Briggs. 

Co.  4i  I  "  —Jeremiah  K.  Reading,  F.  D.  Clark,  John  II. 
Crandall,  *  James  G.  Wellman,  Judson  S.  Oliver,  Lawrence 
Powers,  *  James  O.  Andrews,  Charles  W.  Berry,  fj.  W. 
Bishop. 

Co.  "K"— Orson  T.  Jewett,  James  Tucker,  Henry  S. 
Wells,  J.  L.  Mudge,  Volney  Mudge,  f  Charles  W.  Tibbitts, 
John  C.  Fowler,  Charles  Dwinnell,  Henry  L.  Van  Dresser. 

Having  assisted  several  of  my  wounded  comrades  to 
seek  shelter  in  the  cellar  of  the  stone  house,  and  having 
stanched  their  wounds  with  lint  and  bandages  made  from 
some  havelocks  ;  and,  moved  by  their  agonizing  cries  for 
"  Water!  water  !"  and  their  entreaties  for  some  one  to  re 
main  with  them,  I  tarried  till  it  was  too  late  to  make  my 
own  escape.  No  words  can  adequately  depict  the  fears  of 
these  wounded  men  as  to  the  treatment  they  would  receive, 
if  they  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  They 
expected  to  be  bayoneted  on  the  spot.  They  would  not 
at  first  drink  the  water  from  a  spring  found  in  one  corner 
of  the  cellar,  because  they  feared  the  rebels  had  poisoned 
the  water.  And  not  until  I  had  made  two  wounded  rebel 
soldiers  (who  had  also  been  taken  into  the  cellar),  drink 
some  of  the  water,  would  they  be  convinced  that  it  was 
safe  for  them  to  drink  it.  All  the  time  the  stone  house  was 
a  target  for  the  rebels,  and  the  rattle  of  musket  balls  against 
the  walls  of  the  building  was  almost  incessant,  and  some  of 
them  came  through  the  windows,  wounding  three  of  the 
men  the  second  time. 


1 86  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Several  cannon  shot  also  passed  through  the  building, 
and  one  took  off  the  top  of  the  chimney,  the  bricks  and 
mortar  coming  down  inside,  and  nearly  burying  the  two 
wounded  rebels,  who  had  crawled  into  the  fireplace  for 
safety. 

At  the  distance  of  about  two  rods  from  the  building,  on 
the  rebel  side,  was  a  well  ;  and  though  the  wounded  were 
perishing  with  thirst,  very  few  dared  to  go  out  for  water  ; 
but  one  noble  fellow  ^whose  name  I  regret  that  I  have  for 
gotten),  took  two  canteens  and  went  out  to  obtain  water. 
While  so  doing,  he  received  five  or  six  musket  balls,  in  dif 
ferent  portions  of  his  body,  from  the  rebel  forces,  yet  was 
not  fatally  injured,  and  survived  the  battle — to  become  a 
prisoner  in  Richmond.  He  will  ever  be  re.nembered  with 
gratitude  by  those  who  witnessed  his  noble  conduct,  and 
shared  in  the  benefits  of  his  exploit.  About  fifty  men  were 
killed  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  il  old  stone  house." 
After  our  forces  were  on  the  retreat,  a  body  of  troops  sur 
rounded  the  stone  building,  entered  with  bayonets,  and  de 
manded  our  surrender  !  No  resistance  was  made,  and  no 
violence  was  offered  to  the  prisoners.  They  demanded  our 
arms,  and  ordered  those  of  us  not  too  severely  wounded  to 
form  in  a  line.  Some  of  us  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
bend  our  muskets,  and  also  to  remove  the  chamber  from 
our  revolvers.  We  were,  soon  after,  marched  up  the  hill  to 
a  large  white  house,  which  was  the  headquarters  of  Gen. 
Beauregard.  We  remained  here  a  short  time  ;  and  while 
lying  on  the  ground,  Gens.  Beauregard  and  Johnson,  and 
Jeff.  Davis  rode  up  and  surveyed  their  captives,  their  faces 
illumined  with  joy  and  exultation.  A  few  of  our  men  be 
gan  to  make  inquiries  for  a  revolver,  and  could  one  have 
been  found,  some  of  those  saddles  would  have  been  sud 
denly  emptied  ! 

We  were  marched  five  miles  to  Manassas  Junction  that 
night,  where  we  remained  till  3  o'clock  the  next  day.  It 
rained  all  night,  and  we  had  no  cover,  and  nothing  of  any 
account  to  eat.  We  were  kept  standing  in  an  open  space — 
a  solid  mass  of  men  ;  and  what  little  food  was  given  us, 


THE    FIRST   TOBACCO    WAREHOUSE   PRISON.  I  8/ 

was  thrown  into  the  pen,  and  most  of  it  trampled  into  the 
mud  before  we  could  get  it.  We  were  put  on  board  of  box 
cars  and  taken  to  Richmond,  where  we  arrived  at  about 
8  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  July,  1861. 

We  were  marched  through  the  streets,  under  a  strong 
guard  to  protect  us  from  the  violence  of  the  mob,  who, 
flushed  with  their  recent  victory,  were  armed  with  clubs, 
bricks  and  stones,  and  followed  us  with  scoffs  and  curses. 
The  march  brought  us  to  Harwood's  large  tobacco  factory, 
on  Main  street,  near  Twenty-fifth  street,  which  with  several 
other  similar  buildings,  afterwards  became  famous  (or 
rather  infamous)  under  the  name  of  Libby  Prison. 

July  25th.— Have  had  a  good  night's  rest.  Slept  on  the 
bare  floor,  without  any  blankets.  It  is  terribly  tiresome 
being  shut  up  here  in  this  building,  which  is  108  feet  long, 
40  feet  wide,  and  three  stories  high.  Water  is  very  scarce 
and  poor  ;  we  cannot  get  enough  to  drink,  and  none  to 
wash  or  to  bathe  in.  From  our  prison  windows  we  can 
look  out  on  the  James  River,  to  the  south.  On  the 
west  we  can  look  over  the  city,  see  the  capitol  building, 
and  a  secesh  flag  waving  at  each  end.  It  makes  us  feel 
rather  down-hearted  to  think  we  cannot  get  out  and  pull 
them  down.  The  men  keep  up  as  good  spirits  as  possible, 
but  are  all  longing  to  return  to  their  regiments.  We  hope 
to  be  let  off  soon. 

Sunday. — To-day  we  had  service  in  our  quarters,  con 
ducted  by  an  Episcopal  minister.  A  great  many  people 
came  in  to  see  us.  We  had  three  meals  to-day,  served  at 
9,  3,  and  10  o'clock — fashionable  hours,  we  think.  Food  is 
very  scarce  in  Richmond.  The  people  are  anxious  to  get 
rid  of  us,  or  make  us  earn  our  own  living.  The  papers  are 
full  of  plans  for  treating  us  badly.  They  threaten  to  make 
us  work  on  the  fortifications  or  in  the  coal  mines.  All  these 
schemes  keep  us  worrying  for  our  safety. 

July  26th.— Slept  well  during  the  night  ;  am  getting  ac 
customed  to  bunking  on  the  bare  floor.  My  health  is 
good,  but  we  are  very  weak  from  having  no  exercise  and 
very  little  food.  A  new  quartermaster  was  appointed  to- 


1 88  RECORD   OF   27TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

day  ;  his  name  is  Warner,  a  Northern  man,  from  Ohio.  He 
pretends  to  be  a  rebel,  that  he  may  collect  some  money  due 
him  in  Richmond.  He  gives  us  more  to  eat.  Our  rations 
are :  pork,  bread  and  coffee  for  breakfast  ;  bread,  pork  and 
rice  for  dinner  ;  coffee  with  bread  and  pork  for  supper. 

July  2/th. — Have  formed  a  new  arrangement  in  regard  to 
giving  out  the  rations.  Till  now,  the  food  has  been 
brought  in  in  buckets  and  thrown  in  heaps  on  the  floor. 
The  men  were  so  ravenous  that  they  would  dive  in  and  get 
all  they  could,  and  trample  much  of  it  under  foot,  so  that 
many  would  get  none.  We  have  formed  into  squads  of 
fifty,  and  one  man  is  chosen  to  draw  and  distribute  the  ra 
tions  for  the  fifty.  All  are  made  to  sit  down  on  the  floor 
in  their  places,  and  every  man  is  given  an  equal  ration. 

Sunday,  July  28th. — This  is  a  beautiful  day,  but  there  is 
no  regard  for  the  Sabbath.  Many  of  the  men  are  playing 
cards  and  gambling,  and  other  sports  are  going  on  the 
same  as  on  a  week  day.  We  have  no  books  to  read.  Gen. 
Winder,  Provost  Marshal  of  the  city,  says  he  will  not  allow 
any  books  except  the  Bible.  I  spend  a  good  deal  of  my 
time  reading  my  Testament,  which  is  a  great  comfort  to 
me.  We  are  all  very  anxious  to  get  out  of  this  terrible 
place ;  the  confinement  is  almost  beyond  endurance.  We 
are  very  weak,  and  our  minds  seem  to  be  in  a  half-dormant 
state,  so  we  cannot  fully  realize  our  condition.  I  find  great 
comfort  in  prayer.  I  feel  that  God  is  very  near  to  me,  and 
that  in  His  own  good  time  He  will  bring  me  out  of  trouble. 
Many  of  the  men  are  getting  sick.  Water  is  very  scarce, 
none  to  wash  in.  The  men  are  very  filthy  and  are  covered 
with  vermin.  It  is  with  great  difficulty  we  can  get  out  to 
the  sinks,  which  are  situated  in  the  yard.  Only  two  are 
allowed  to  go  from  the  building  at  a  time,  and  it  takes 
nearly  all  day  to  get  out.  We  have  been  obliged  to  use 
one  end  of  the  first  floor  and  it  is  covered  several  inches 
thick  with  filth.  It  is  tedious  being  shut  up  here,  but  I  do 
not  complain,  and  am  not  sorry  that  I  enlisted.  I  hope  I 
shall  have  a  chance  to  try  it  over  again. 

The  quartermaster  still  feeds  us  pretty  well,  but  many  of 


A   STRIKING    RESEMBLANCE.  189 

the  guards  arc  cruel  and  harsh.  Several  times  they  have 
shot  at  the  men  who  were  standing  near  the  windows. 
This  morning  a  ball  came  through  the  floor  not  far  from 
where  I  was  sitting.  It  had  been  fired  into  the  window  of 
the  room  below. 

July  3Oth. — To-day  I  have  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a 
young  man  by  the  name  of  Trowbridge,  of  the  2d  Wiscon 
sin  regiment,  and  find  that  he  is  a  cousin  of  a  school-mate 
of  mine.  He  looks  so  much  like  her  that  when  I  first  saw 
him  I  asked  him  if  he  was  a  relative.  He  is  sick  to-day,  and 
I  am  taking  care  of  him. 

Many  of  the  boys  are  writing  letters  home  to-day.  We 
do  not  know  whether  our  letters  go  through  the  lines  or 
not.  If  my  parents  knew  what  had  become  of  me,  I 
would  be  more  contented.  I  hope  they  will  soon  hear 
where  I  am.  May  God  sustain  them,  and  may  I  be  able  to 
see  them  again.  (After  the  battle  my  name  was  given  in 
the  list  of  killed,  and  it  was  several  months  before  my  pa 
rents  knew  that  I  was  alive.) 

The  weather  is  very  warm,  and  we  are  more  and  more 
afflicted  with  vermin.  A  great  many  of  the  men  are  sick. 
I  fear  we  shall  all  die  if  we  are  left  here  much  longer. 
Charley  Platt,  a  member  of  my  company,  was  taken  to  the 
hospital  to-day.  It  is  terrible  to  be  sick  here. 

Wednesday,  July  3ist. — The  weather  still  continues  very 
hot.  More  of  the  men  are  getting  sick.  I  continually 
think  of  home  and  of  what  our  folks  are  doing.  Haying  and 
harvesting  are  now  over  ;  the  barns  are  full  ;  fruit  must  be 
abundant.  But  we  are  shut  up  here,  our  friends  not  know 
ing  whether  we  are  dead  or  alive.  If  I  could  only  hear 
from  them,  it  would  do  my  soul  good.  I  wonder  what 
they  think  has  become  of  me,  and  if  mother  worries  about 
me.  If  this  trouble  could  only  be  settled  !  God  grant 
that  it  may  be,  that  we  may  return  to  our  homes  and  live 
in  peace,  and  this  nation  become  a  great  and  happy  one. 
How  is  it  possible  that  such  a  state  of  feeling  as  now  exists 
could  have  sprung  up?  Why  did  God  permit  it  ?  We 
cannot  see  now,  but  He  has  some  wise  end  in  view.  May 


IQO  RECORD    OP    2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

that  end  speedily  come.  I  am  willing  to  wait  His  time  and 
not  complain.  I  will  not  say  aught  against  His  dealings 
with  me,  for  "  He  doeth  all  things  well."  He  suffered  His 
ancient  people  to  go  into  slavery  and  trouble,  and  even  His 
own  Son  to  die.  But  they  vvere  made  soon  to  triumph 
over  their  enemies  and  dwell  in  peace.  Will  he  not  do  so 
with  us?  We  have  the  promise  in  His  Word.  And  may 
the  lesson  which  God  would  teach  us  by  this  reverse  of 
fortune  be  understood  by  us,  and  we  come  out  as  silver 
from  the  furnace,  refined  and  purified,  more  perfectly  fitted 
to  do  our  Master's  will.  I  love  Him  more  and  more  every 
day,  and  I  will  try  to  continue  in  His  love  as  long  as  I  live, 
that  at  the  end  I  may  not  be  found  wanting,  but  ready  to 
die  and  go  to  my  heavenly  home. 

Time  passes  away  rather  fast  but  drearily.  We  have 
succeeded  in  getting  a  few  books,  and  I  am  now  reading  a 
volume  of  Anderson's  Travels  in  South  Africa.  One  of  the 
men  has  been  allowed  to  go  into  the  city  and  has  bought  a 
quantity  of  apples,  crackers  and  nicknacks  to  sell  to  the 
boys.  These  are  purchased  quickly  by  those  who  have 
money,  and  the  edibles  are  eagerly  devoured. 

August  1st. — Yesterday  was  the  hottest  day  of  the  season 
since  we  came  here ;  we  could  scarcely  breathe,  and  it  is 
very  warm  and  muggy  this  morning.  Rumor  says  that 
some  of  us  are  to  be  removed  to  another  building  to-day. 
I  hope  it  will  be  done,  for  there  are  332  men  on  this  floor, 
which  is  108x40  ft.,  a  floor  space  of  2x6  ft.  to  each  man. 
We  have  to  bring  water  a  long  distance  in  buckets,  and 
suffer  a  great  deal  for  lack  of  enough  to  drink  and  wash  in. 
Another  of  our  men  was  shot  at  this  morning  while  sitting 
in  the  window.  This  makes  the  fifth  time  that  shots  have 
been  fired  into  this  building,  but  no  one  has  been  hurt  yet, 
although  the  balls  came  right  among  us.  We  hope  to  have 
revenge  on  these  cowardly  fellows  some  time,  although  we 
would  gladly  forgive  them  if  it  would  do  any  good. 

Arrangements  having  been  made  for  another  building, 
fifty  of  the  prisoners  were  taken  over  this  forenoon  to  clean 
it,  and  another  squad  of  fifty  have  been  over  this  afternoon. 


A    NEW    PRISON    OPENED.  iQl 

I  went  with  them  and  helped  to  sweep  and  remove  rubbish 
from  the  room.  This,  too,  is  a  tobacco  factory,  and  we 
found  large  quantities  of  good  tobacco,  of  all  kinds.  I  per 
suaded  the  officers  in  charge  to  let  the  boys  from  our  regi 
ment  move  into  this  building,  which  is  just  across  the  street 
from  our  former  quarters,  where  we  occupy  the  second 
floor.  Just  at  night  we  came  over,  together  with  the  men 
of  the  2d  Wisconsin  and  1st  Massachusetts,  in  all  about 
seventy  men.  These  quarters  are  much  cleaner  and  more 
pleasant  than  the  old  ones,  and  we  are  very  lucky  to  get 
them.  This  room  is  well  lighted  with  gas,  so  that  our 
evenings  are  pleasant,  and  it  has  also  twelve  large  win 
dows,  and  is  40x60  ft.  in  size.  On  one  side  is  a  large  tub, 
and  a  hydrant  that  brings  river  water,  so  that  we  can  wash, 
and  each  man  is  cleaning  himself  up.  This  is  the  first  time 
since  the  battle  that  we  have  had  water  enough  to  wash  in. 

Quartermaster  Warner  has  charge  of  all  the  cooking  and 
feeding  arrangements,  but  the  cooking  is  done  by  eight  or 
ten  darkies.  The  coffee,  meat  and  rice  are  boiled  in  large 
iron  kettles,  holding  nine  gallons  each,  and  there  are  about 
thirty  of  these  kettles. 

August  2d. — I  have  had  a  good  night's  rest  in  our  new 
quarters.  We  had  no  supper  last  night,  and  there  is  no 
prospect  of  any  breakfast  this  morning.  We  are  getting 
very  hungry.  I  am  feeling  well  this  morning,  and  I  hope  I 
may  continue  to  enjoy  good  health,  for  it  is  discouraging  to 
be  sick  here.  W^e  hope  to  go  home  soon,  though  there  is 
no  prospect  of  it  now.  The  people  here  say  that  they  are 
willing  to  exchange  prisoners,  if  President  Lincoln  will. 
We  hope  he  will,  for  we  think  it  would  be  better  for  our 
cause  than  to  leave  us  here,  doing  no  good  ;  but  we  trust 
his  policy  is  a  good  one. 

There  appears  to  be  but  little  business  going  on  in  the 
city  now.  All  the  tobacco  factories  are  stopped,  as  there 
is  no. demand  for  the  article  outside  of  the  city,  on  account 
of  the  blockade,  which  is  injuring  them  very  much. 

Breakfast  has  finally  come,  about  1 1  o'clock,  consisting 
of  bread  and  coffee.  Many  wounded  prisoners  were  brought 


tQ2  RECORD   OF   2/TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

in  during  the  night,  and,  having  to  be  fed,  occasioned  the 
delay  of  our  breakfast.  We  are  to  have  but  two  meals  a 
day  after  this.  Our  supper,  of  bread  and  meat,  came  about 
5  o'clock. 

To-day  we  have  adopted  a  code  of  rules  for  our  personal 
cleanliness,  and  a  police  force  has  been  elected  to  enforce 
these  rules.  Every  man  is  required  to  take  off  all  his  cloth 
ing  twice  a  day,  and  carefully  search  the  seams,  and  kill  all 
the  body  lice.  So  we  hope  to  keep  quite  clean  now. 

We  can  get  the  city  papers  at  our  quarters,  for  five  cents 
apiece,  but  they  are  so  rabid  and  lie  so  much,  that  we  hate 
to  read  them.  We  do  not  know  anything  of  what  is  going 
on  in  the  country,  or  what  is  to  be  done  with  us. 

August  3d. — Several  of  our  men  are  quite  sick.  We  had 
breakfast  about  10  o'clock,  of  bread  and  coffee.  We  get 
half  a  loaf  of  bread  apiece,  and  have  to  go  rather  hungry 
now-a-days,  because  there  are  so  many  here  to  feed.  More 
are  coming  all  the  time.  I  think  they  will  soon  get  tired 
of  keeping  us,  for  grub  is  very  scarce.  There  is  some  talk 
that  we  are  to  be  sent  further  south,  but  we  hope  it  is  not  so. 
The  rebel  papers  report  that  their  prisoners  at  the  North 
are  treated  very  cruelly,  but  we  do  not  believe  it.  More 
wounded  were  brought  in  last  night,  and  placed  in  the 
building  we  first  occupied, — so  that  about  130  more  men 
were  brought  over  from  there  to  this  building,  making  our 
quarters  very  crowded.  How  we  wish  we  could  get  hold 
of  some  school  books,  or  more  books  to  read,  that  we  might 
improve  our  time  in  studying,  but  we  fear  it  will  be  impos 
sible  to  do  it. 

Sunday,  Aug.  4th. — The  most  of  the  men  are  very  quiet 
this  morning,  but  many  are  regardless  of  the  Sabbath.  I 
had  wished  several  times  this  morning  that  we  might  have 
preaching  in  the  prison  to-day,  when  about  eleven  o'clock  a 
rough-looking  man  came  in  and  said  :  "  We  will  have  divine 
service."  At  first  I  thought  he  was  some  stranger  from  the 
city,  but  he  proved  to  be  the  Rev.  Hiram  Eddy,  of  Litch- 
field,  Conn.,  Chaplain  of  the  2d  Connecticut  Regiment. 
The  services  were  opened  with  singing  by  the  men.  After 


NURSING   A   WOUNDED    COMRADE*  193 

this  a  prayer,  and  a  more  earnest  one  I  never  heard.  The 
men  were  quite  still  during  the  prayer,  which  compre 
hended  all  that  our  circumstances  would  suggest.  After 
prayer,  he  read  the  I4th  Chapter  of  St.  John,  with  com 
ments,  and  then  took  his  text  from  the  first  verse  of  the 
same  chapter.  He  spoke  at  some  length,  and  held  the  un 
divided  attention  of  the  men.  It  was  the  most  interesting 
and  delightful  hour  of  worship  I  ever  spent — the  talk  and 
the  chapter  applying  so  well  to  our  circumstances,  were 
very  affecting.  He  urged  all  to  accept  Christ,  read  the 
Bible  and  be  saved.  Nearly  all  the  men  seemed  affected, 
and  must  have  profited  by  the  sermon.  It  seemed  like 
church  at  home,  and  made  us  more  contented  here,  more 
willing  to  wait  God's  time  to  bring  us  out  and  return  us  to 
our  friends,  who  must  be  very  anxious  about  us.  After 
service  I  had  a  very  pleasant  chat  with  the  preacher.  God 
grant  that  much  good  may  be  done  here,  and  that  all  the 
men  may  learn  to  reverence  their  God.  For  since  we  feel 
God's  presence,  we  can  be  happy. 

About  5  o'clock  seventy  more  prisoners  were  brought  in, 
increasing  the  number  on  our  floor  to  one  hundred,  so  that 
we  are  somewhat  crowded,  but  we  shall  have  to  put  up 
with  it. 

At  6  o'clock  I  was  requested  to  go  to  the  hospital  and 
help  take  care  of  Sergeant  Wellman,  of  Co.  "  I,"  of  our 
regiment.  I  found  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  below  the 
knee.  I  remained  with  him  all  night.  I  also  found  in  the 
same  building  (the  one  we  first  occupied)  S.  A.  McKune 
and  Will.  Sampson,  of  Co.  "  D."  McKune  was  wounded  in 
the  abdomen,  the  ball  passing  in  a  slanting  direction  across 
his  body.  I  think  he  will  soon  recover.  Sampson  was  hit 
in  the  ankle,  and  has  a  dangerous  wound.  I  also  found 
four  others  there  from  our  regiment,  all  badly  wounded. 
As  I  had  had  nothing  to  eat  for  a  day  before  coming  into 
the  hospital,  the  bad  smell  from  the  putrid  wounds  made 
me  very  sick,  but  I  kept  on  with  my  work  till  morning. 

Monday,  August  4th. — I  returned  from  the  hospital 
about  10  'clock,  sick  and  hungry,  not  having  had  anything 


194  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

to  eat.  We  did  not  get  breakfast  till  nearly  noon,  then  had 
some  meat,  rice  and  mush.  Nothing  more  till  12  o'clock  at 
night,  when  some  meat  and  bread  were  brought  in  to  us.  It 
looks  as  though  they  want  to  starve  us  to  death.  They 
say  that  food  is  very  scarce  in  the  city.  As  prisoners  of 
war  we  are  treated  very  shamefully.  We  fast  so  much  we 
are  very  weak,  and  it  will  take  years  for  us  to  recover  from 
the  effects  of  prison  life  I  have  been  quite  ill  all  day,  but 
hope  soon  to  recover. 

August  6th. — I  am  a  little  better  than  I  was  yesterday. 
My  comrade,  Charley  Trowbridge,  takes  good  care  of  me. 
It  is  now  nearly  12  o'clock,  and  nothing  to  eat  yet.  I  am 
afraid  we  shall  all  starve  to  death.  God  forgive  them  for 
treating  us  so.  Breakfast  came  about  noon — some  coffee, 
rice  and  mush.  We  had  supper  about  eight — a  very  small 
supply  of  meat  and  rice. 

August  8th. — One  of  our  men,  by  the  name  of  Crandall, 
is  sick  with  the  measles.  Our  wounded  are  mostly  doing 
well.  Oh  !  how  we  long  to  go  home  ;  we  shall  appreciate 
home  if  we  ever  return.  The  men  are  getting  very  dirty 
and  lousy,  some  are  completely  covered  with  vermin.  It  is 
with  great  difficulty  that  I  can  keep  myself  free  from  them. 
I  am  a  good  deal  worse  to-day  than  I  have  been  ";  the  more 
I  doctor  the  worse  I  seem  to  get.  We  have  had  enough  to 
eat  to-day,  for  a  wonder. 

August  Qth. — I  rested  quite  well  during  the  night,  and 
we  have  had  a  very  good  breakfast  this  morning,  of  meat, 
bread  and  coffee.  Those  who  have  money  live  first-rate, 
for  they  can  send  out  by  the  guards  and  buy  fruits  or  any 
thing  they  wish.  The  men  find  all  the  tobacco  they  want 
in  the  upper  rooms  of  the  prison.  Several  boxes  of  plug 
and  twist  have  been  opened  to-day. 

The  weather  is  very  warm,  and  the  wounded  are  dying 
off  fast.  We  had  supper  about  8  o'clock,  and  then  all  lay 
down  for  the  night.  It  is  a  funny  sight  to  see  so  many  men 
stretched  out  on  the  floor.  There  are  so  many  of  us  that 
when  we  lie  down  the  floor  is  completely  covered.  One 
cannot  cross  the  room  without  walking  on  the  men. 


RUMOR   THAT   WE   ARE   TO    RE    EXCHANGED.          195 

There  are  many  rumors  as  to  what  may  be  done  with  us. 
One  is  that  we  are  to  be  sent  to  work  in  the  coal  mines  ; 
another,  that  we  shall  be  taken  further  south  in  a  clay  or 
two  ;  and  still  another,  that  we  are  to  be  sent  home  soon  on 
a  parole  of  honor.  The  time  set  for  this  happy  event  is 
Monday  next.  Of  course  we  do  not  credit  this,  but  let  it 
go  the  way  it  came. 

August  10th. — I  am  quite  well  to-day,  for  which  I  am 
truly  thankful.  We  hope  that  the  government  will  soon 
see  fit  to  exchange  prisoners,  for  we  are  doing  no  good 
here.  But  as  we  do  not  know  the  policy  of  our  govern 
ment,  we  will  not  complain,  but  bide  our  time. 

Orderly  Davis,  from  Co.  "  C.,"  came  over  to  our  quarters 
to-day.  He  says  there  are  six  or  eight  of  our  boys  with 
him  in  another  prison.  So  there  must  be  fifty  or  sixty  of 
our  regiment  prisoners,  wounded  and  all. 

Sunday,  August  nth. — Three  weeks  have  passed  since 
the  memorable  battle,  and  we  are  still  here  in  prison,  pass 
ing  away  our  time  to  no  purpose.  Amid  the  noise  and 
bustle  of  a  hundred  men,  it  is  hard  to  keep  the  Sabbath. 
What  a  luxury  it  would  be  to  be  alone  for  a  little  while,  but 
not  for  one  moment  can  one  escape  from  the  crowd  of  noisy 
men. 

M-r.  Eddy  came  in  and  preached  to  us  to-day,  and  we  had 
a  delightful  hour  of  worship.  The  men  were  very  atten 
tive,  and  all  passed  quietly.  His  text  was,  "God  is  Love." 
He  spoke  exceedingly  well,  and  the  service  did  us  a  great 
deal  of  good.  We  went  back,  in  imagination,  to  the  old 
church  at  home,  where  we  had  so  often  heard  the  "  Word 
of  Life  ;"  and  where  perhaps,  at  this  very  time,  our  friends 
were  worshiping,  and  earnestly  praying  for  us  ;  for  we  felt 
that  God  was  very  near,  comforting  us  by  his  Holy  Spirit. 
I  am  room  orderly  to-day,  and  have  had  a  great  deal  to  do, 
cleaning  the  floor  and  keeping  it  in  order.  Some  of  our 
doctors  have  been  sent  home  to-day,  on  parole.  They  were 
granted  this  favor  for  an  act  of  kindness  to  a  wounded 
rebel  colonel.  It  seems  hard  to  fight  against  our  brethren, 
but  when  we  see  their  acts  of  treason,  it  is  a  great  incentive 


196  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

to  action.  But  I  think  this  trouble  could  have  been  settled 
without  blood-shed,  and  I  hope  there  will  be  no  more  fight 
ing.  But  the  right  will  triumph.  May  God  prosper  the 
right,  and  all  be  well. 

August  I2th. — After  breakfast  I  got  the  guards  to  pass  me 
to  No.  i  Hospital.  Here  I  found  three  wounded  men  from 
our  regiment — Corp.  Wood,  one  of  the  color-guard  who  was 
shot  through  the  hand,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Bond, 
from  Co.  "  I."  I  remained  with  them  a  short  time,  and 
then  went  over  to  the  other  hospital,  where  McKune  and 
Sampson  are.  I  found  them  doing  well.  The  doctors 
wanted  more  help  in  the  hospital  ;  so  I  volunteered  as  a 
nurse.  I  went  back  to  my  quarters,  got  my  coat  and  things, 
and  returned  to  the  hospital,  where  I  am  now,  beside 
McKune's  cot,  writing  by  the  gas  light.  There  are  one  hun 
dred  wounded  men  on  this  floor.  Most  of  them  are  doing 
well.  One  man  died  this  afternoon.  He  belonged  to  the 
2d  Rhode  Island  Regiment.  He  has  been  deranged  several 
days,  and  has  suffered  a  great  deal.  He  was  a  long  time 
dying.  It  seemed  sad  to  see  him  go.  We  have  had  preach 
ing  in  the  hospital  to-day,  by  an  Episcopal  minister, — the 
same  one  who  preached  when  we  first  came  here.  One  of 
the  men  died  just  as  he  finished  talking.  Twelve  men  were 
sent  home  on  parole  to-day.  I  sent  a  letter  by  them. 

August  1 3th. — It  is  9  P.  M.  I  have  had  a  hard  day's  work, 
and  have  just  finished.  I  have  had  enough  to  eat,  and  my 
health  is  excellent.  Nearly  all  the  wounded  are  doing  well. 
One  man  died  last  night.  Besides  nursing  the  wounded,  I 
have  assisted  in  cleaning  the  floor  of  the  third  story,  where 
the  nurses  and  sick  are  quartered.  This  hospital  is  the 
building  where  we  were  quartered  when  we  came  to  the  city. 
A  rebel  soldier  died  to-day,  in  a  hospital  which  is  just  across 
the  street  from  ours.  On  the  hearse  that  carried  the  body 
out  for  burial  were  four  small  secesh  flags.  This  is  going 
it  big,  we  think.  Wonder  if  he  will  change  his  colors  when 
he  gets  on  the  other  side  !  Mr.  Eddy  has  been  in  to  see  the 
wounded.  I  had  a  pleasant  chat  with  him.  1  am  tired,  and 
must  go  to  bed.  Good-night.  I  sleep  on  the  bare  floor, 


DEATH    OF   COMRADE    PRESCOTT.  197 

with  my  boots  for  a  pillow,  beside  McKune's  cot.  Most  of 
the  wounded  are  provided  with  cots  and  mattresses. 

August  1 5th. — One  poor  fellow  died  to-day,  by  the  name 
of  Jacob  Sparahall,  from  the  4th  Maine  Regiment.  I  think 
another  will  die  to-night,  for  he  is  but  just  alive.  The  rest 
seen:  to  be  doing  well.  McKune  and  Sampson  are  gaining. 
Reports  of  another  battle  are  prevalent,  but  we  cannot  get 
any  particulars.  The  wounded  soldier  mentioned  above 
died  during  the  night.  He  was  one  of  the  I4th  Brooklyn 
Regiment,  by  the  name  of  Charles  R.  Prescott.  He  was  a 
very  intelligent  and  well  educated  man.  His  leg  had  been 
amputated  twice,  but  the  operation  was-  badly  performed  : 
it  was  taken  off  near  the  hip,  and  the  bone  left  several 
inches  bare.  He  lived  five  days  on  nothing  but  whiskey, 
suffering  a  great  deal.  Death,  for  which  he  had  long  prayed, 
finally  came  and  released  him  from  his  suffering. 

August  i6th. — Several  prisoners,  that  had  escaped,  have 
been  recaptured  and  put  in  irons  to-day.  This  is  rather 
hard.  We  do  not  see  why  our  government  does  not  ex 
change  prisoners.  We  see  nothing  to  hinder  it.  Many  of 
the  men  are  getting  sick,  and  we  are  all  very  anxious  to  get 
back  to  our  regiments.  One  of  the  wounded  men  received 
a  letter  from  his  brother  to-day.  Oh  !  how  I  wish  I  could 
hear  from  my  home. 

Sunday,  August  i8th. — To-day  I  had  a  talk  about  religion 
with  one  of  the  wounded  boys  from  our  regiment,  by  the 
name  of  Johnson.  He  is  badly  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and 
I  fear  he  will  not  live  long.  He  seems  to  be  serious,  and 
tries  to  repent.  His  father  is  a  Presbyterian  minister,  living 
near  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

August  2Oth. — Death,  with  his  arrow,  has  again  entered 
the  hospital,  and  cut  down  two  of  our  number.  Two  strong 
men  have  survived  their  injuries  four  long  weeks,  but  at  last 
they  have  died.  Joseph  Campbell,  of  Co.  "  C,"  I4th  Brook 
lyn,  has  gone  to  his  long  home.  He  trusted  in  Christ,  re 
pented,  and  has  gone  to  meet  Him  in  heaven.  He  has  suf 
fered  a  great  deal,  and  died  hard  ;  but  we  never  heard  him 
complain.  His  home  is  142  Plymouth  St.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


198  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

August  2 1 st. — Another  man  has  died  to-day.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  thigh, — the  whole  fleshy  part  of  his  hip  was 
carried  away  by  a  cannon  ball.  His  leg  was  not  broken, 
but  the  veins  sloughed  off,  and  he  bled  to  death. 

August  22d. — I  am  doing  all  I  can  in  the  hospital  for  the 
wounded.  Many  of  the  prisoners  are  getting  sick.  I  fear 
that  some  malady  may  break  out  among  them.  All  the 
wounded  from  our  regiment  are  doing  well,  except  John 
son.  For  a  couple  of  days  he  has  been  out  of  his  head, 
and  he  thinks  he  sees  his  mother,  brother  and  sister  near 
him,  and  tries  to  speak  to  them — often  wishes  me  to  call 
them  to  him.  I  think  he  will  not  live  through  the  night.  It 
seems  hard  to  die  now,  aftei  having  lived  so  long  since  the 
battle.  I  sat  down  by  his  cot  about  8  o'clock,  and  thought 
him  dying  then.  His  pulse  had  ceased,  and  the  cold  sweat 
stood  in  thick  drops  on  his  brow.  He  lay  in  this  state  some 
time,  breathing  very  short.  I  thought  him  dying,  but  we 
raised  his  head  and  gave  him  water.  The  water  seemed  to 
revive  him,  his  pulse  beat  again  and  his  limbs  became 
warm.  He  seemed  easier  after  this  and  slept  a  short  time, 
but  kept  muttering  broken  sentences,  only  a  few  words  of 
which  I  could  understand.  He  repeatedly  commenced  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  but  could  only  say  a  few  words  when  his 
mind  would  wander,  and  he  would  seem  to  be  speaking  to 
his  mother  and  his  sister,  but  his  meaning  we  could  not 
make  out  About  3  o'clock  he  passed  away  and  his  body 
was  carried  out.  I  think  from  what  he  told  me  before  his 
mind  wandered,  and  from  what  he  said  afterward,  that  his 
heart  had  been  changed  and  that  he  died  happy.  He  suf 
fered  very  much  from  his  wound,  but  had  as  good  care  as 
we  could  give  him  here.  His  wound  was  so  bad  that  we 
could  not  move  him,  and  his  clothes  had  not  been  taken  off 
since  he  was  wounded.  The  doctors  fixed  his  leg  in  a 
sling  suspended  by  cords  from  the  ceiling,  so  that  it  could 
be  dressed.  He  was  not  strong  enough  to  undergo  an  am 
putation.  I  have  the  things  that  were  found  on  his  per 
son,  a  prayer-book  and  several  letters,  which  I  shall  en 
deavor  to  send  to  his  friends,  if  I  live  to  get  out  of  prison- 


PROMOTED  TO  A  BETTER  PLACE          199 

The  book  was  a  present  from  his  mother.  His  name  and 
date  of  receiving  this  parting  gift  are  on  the  fly-leaf.  May 
God  comfort  the  mother! 

P.  S.  After  reaching  home,  I  sent  the  things  to  his 
mother.  She  came  to  see  me,  and  has  written  me  a  letter 
every  year  since. 

August  23d. — I  awoke  this  morning  feeling  very  sick. 
The  steward  directed  me  to  take  a  drink  of  whiskey,  which 
made  me  feel  better.  This  is  the  first  liquor  I  ever  drank. 
I  have  had  to  work  hard  all  day  and  am  very  tired  to-night. 
My  work  consists  in  removing  the  bandages,  cleansing  the 
wounds,  replacing  the  dressings,  and  feeding  and  nursing 
the  helpless  ones.  I  prefer  this  work  to  lying  idle  in  the 
prison. 

Some  of  the  rebel  reserve  guard  got  to  fighting  among 
themselves  last  night,  and  killed  one  of  their  sergeants — his 
name  was  Hamilton.  He  had  put  one  of  his  men  in  irons, 
for  some  breach  of  discipline,  and  when  he  went  to  lock 
him  in  the  guard-room,  the  fellow  seized  a  musket  and  let 
drive  at  him,  the  charge  passing  through  his  body. 

August  2/th. — To-day  I  have  had  a  falling  out  with  the 
old  sergeant  who  is  acting  steward  of  our  ward,  or  rather  he 
has  with  me.  He  is  a  very  cross,  crabbed  old  chick,  and 
got  jealous  of  me  because  I  took  too  good  care  of  some 
of  the  men.  He  told  me  to  leave  the  hospital,  which  I 
did.  But  when  one  of  our  doctors  came  in,  the  boys  all 
took  my  part  and  told  him  the  circumstances.  He  sent  for 
me  and  took  me  over  to  headquarters,  and  told  the  rebel 
doctor  that  he  wanted  him  to  appoint  me  superintendent 
of  the  hospital  cook-house.  This  was  done,  and  I  am  to  go 
into  the  hospital  and  carry  things  to  the  boys  whenever  I 
like,  and  also  have  a  pass  to  visit  any  of  the  other  prisons. 
The  cooking  is  all  done  in  the  open  yard  without  shelter. 
We  have  to  make  great  quantities  of  beef  tea  for  the 
wounded.  The  work  is  very  hard,  but  we  get  plenty  to 
eat  and  enjoy  the  luxury  of  being  in  the  fresh  air. 

Sunday,  September  1st. —  Have  worked  the  same  as  on  a 


200  RECORD   OF   2JTH.    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

week    day.     Another    man   died    to-day — Charles    I) u rant, 
from  Rochester.     He  was  sick  with  fever. 

September  2d. — We  have  made  but  one  kettle  of  beef 
tea  to-day,  and  in  the  other  we  cooked  a  mess  of  beef,  cab 
bage  and  potatoes,  for  the  wounded — got  them  up  a  regu 
lar  farmers'  dinner.  The  cooking  is  done  in  two  large  iron 
kettles,  holding  about  ninety  gallons  each.  This  supplies 
all  the  hospitals.  I  get  a  little  time  each  day  to  cook  a 
beefsteak  and  roast  a  few  potatoes  for  some  of  my  friends 
in  the  hospital 

September  3d. — To-day  some  of  our  men  who  have  been 
treated  in  the  general  hospital,  which  is  further  up  town, 
have  been  brought  down  to  our  building.  They  have 
nearly  all  recovered  from  their  wounds.  Among  them  was 
George  Coon,  from  Co.  "  D."  He  told  me  that  Pardee  and 
Snedaker,  both  from  the  same  company,  had  died  of  their 
wounds,  in  the  general  hospital. 

September  loth. — The  same  routine  of  daily  work  in  the 
cook  house  continues.  To-day  one  hundred  and  fifty  of 
the  prisoners  have  been  sent  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  twenty- 
seven  of  them  officers,  and  among  them  Col.  Corcoran,  of 
the  69th.  It  is  rumored  that  others  will  go  soon. 

September  I  ith. — One  of  the  assistants  in  the  cook-house 
was  among  the  men  sent  off  to  the  South  yesterday,  and  I 
asked  the  quartermaster  to  detail  my  friend  Charley  Trow- 
bridge  to  assist  in  the  work,  and  he  is  now  with  us.  Soon 
after  I  left  the  prison  and  came  to  the  hospital,  Charley, 
with  a  number  of  others,  was  moved  to  another  building,  a 
factory  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  Here  they  suffered 
still  more  for  the  want  of  rations  than  before  I  left  them  ; 
and  sometimes  when  he  would  come  with  others  to  head 
quarters  to  draw  rations  for  his  comrades,  I  would  give  him 
an  extra  loaf,  some  sugar,  coffee,  etc.  After  a  little,  he  was 
not  able  to  come,  so  he  sometimes  sent  his  haversack,  ac 
companied  by  a  note.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  one  : 


IS    IT    EVER    RIGHT   TO    STEAL?  2OI 

RICHMOND,  Sept.  6 — Friday  Eve. 

FKIK.MI  ("IIAKI.IK  : — 1  write  you  these  few  lines,  hoping  that  you  will 
do  something  for  a  poor  body  that  is  about  half  starved.  I  do  not  uphold 
a  man  in  stealing.  Still  I  do  not  think  it  would  be  laid  up  against  him 
for  stealing  something  to  eat, — that  is,  if  he  were  as  hungry  as  I  have  been 
for  the  last  three  or  four  days  ;  consequently  I  am  going  to  call  on  you. 
If  you  cannot  get  it  without  stealing  it,  I  want  you  should  take  it.  I  send 
yon  my  haversack,  which  you  can  send  back  by  the  upper  floor  squad. 
I  cannot  get  the  chance  to  come  after  rations  every  time.  When  you  see 
this  haversack  coming,  please  look  at  it,  and  think  that  I  am  hungry. 

Hunger  compels  me  to  write  this. 

Your  friend, 

C.  E.  TROWBRIDGE. 

P.  S. — Can't  you  get  me  a  chance  to  help  you  around  the  kettles? 
I  want  to  get  out  into  the  open  air. 

We  loved  each  other  like  brothers,  and  of  course  I  never 
let  his  haversack  go  back  empty. 

September  I3th. — Work  the  same  as  before.  Another 
man  died  yesterday,  by  the  name  of  Bailey;  and  another 
to-day,  from  our  regiment,  A.M.  Hunt,  of  Co.  "G."  I  went 
up  to  see  him  a  short  time  before  he  died.  I  found  him  in 
a  small  attic  room  of  the  hospital,  where  it  was  close  and 
hot.  He  was  sick  with  fever.  He  had  been  out  of  his 
head  for  some  time,  but  seemed  to  know  me.  He  has  had 
very  poor  care,  and  has  been  much  neglected.  I  got  water 
and  washed  him,  and  moistened  his  parched  lips,  and  gave 
him  drink  ;  then  combed  his  hair,  and  drove  away  the  swarms 
of  flies  that  were  tormenting  him.  He  seemed  very  grate 
ful  to  me  ;  reached  his  arms  around  my  neck  and  drew 
me  close  to  him,  but  he  could  not  speak.  I  remained  with 
him  as  long  as  I  could,  and  then  made  some  of  the  other 
boys  promise  to  care  for  him.  Poor  fellow  !  he  soon  died, 
and  now  sleeps  in  one  of  those  unknown  graves,  among 
the  thousands  that  went  down  to  death  from  those  vile 
Southern  prisons. 

One  remark  about  these  dying  men  :  They  retained  their 
hope  of  life  up  to  the  hour  of  dying.  They  did  not  give  up. 


202  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

There  is  another  thing  I  wish  to  state :  All  the  men,  with 
out  any  exception  among  the  thousands  that  I  have  asso 
ciated  with,  have  never  in  a  single  instance  expressed  regret 
that  they  entered  their  country's  service.  They  have  been 
the  most  loyal,  devoted  and  earnest  men  ;  even  on  the  last 
days  of  their  lives  they  have  said,  that  all  they  hoped  for, 
was  just  to  live  and  enter  the  service  again,  and  meet  their 
foes.  It  is  a  most  glorious  record  in  reference  to  the  devo 
tion  of  our  men  to  their  country.  I  do  not  think  their  pat 
riotism  h;  s  ever  been  equaled  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
There  was  no  time  during  our  term  of  imprisonment  that 
we  could  not  have  been  free  by  taking  an  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Confederate  States.  Agents  were  constantly  coming 
to  the  prison  to  induce  mechanics  to  come  out  and  work  at 
their  trades.  Shoe  manufacturers  and  other  tradesmen 
were  anxious  to  get  more  workmen,  and  promised  good 
wages,  plenty  to  eat,  and  -constant  employment.  But  none 
of  the  men  were  moved  by  such  inducements. 

September  I4th. — To-day  I  have  had  to  move  my  sleep 
ing  quarters  from  the  floor  in  the  hospital,  to  No.  I  Prison, 
on  the  same  floor  with  Davis  and  Dunn,  of  Co.  "  C,"  2/th. 
On  leaving,  McKune  gave  me  one  of  his  blankets,  a  gift  of 
which  I  am  very  proud,  as  a  bare  floor  is  not  the  best  bed 
in  the  world. 

September  iQth. — Several  of  the  men  ran  away  last  night, 
and  the  officers  seem  to  suspect  that  I  have  had  something 
to  do  with  the  escape  of  so  many  men  of  late,  and  will 
allow  none  of  the  cooks  in  the  yard  ;  but  the  cooking  is 
hereafter  to  be  done  by  the  negro  prisoners,  who  are 
allowed  to  go  where  they  please.  So  I  have  to  remain  in 
No.  i  Prison.  Upon  reflection,  I  think  the  suspicion  of  the 
officers  was  not  entirely  incorrect.  Sometimes,  when  quite 
a  squad  of  the  prisoners  would  come  down  to  draw  rations, 
one  or  more  of  them  would  slip  into  the  storehouse  and 
hide  among  the  barrels  and  boxes.  At  night  I  would  lock 
them  in,  and  after  dark  they  would  raise  the  back  window, 
which  opened  outside  the  guard-line,  and  make  their 
escape. 


OUR   ORGANIZATION    IN   PRISON.  2O3 

While  in  No.  I  Prison,  I  joined  the  "  Richmond  Prison 
Association,"  a  club  for  fun  and  mutual  improvement.  Of 
course  such  an  association  should  have  a  seal,  sign  and 
motto;  and  what  more  natural  than  that  we  should  select 
as  a  coat  of  arms  for  our  seal,  our  constant  companion,  the 
"  body  louse."  So,  a  skillful  engraver  was  set  to  work,  and 
on  a  piece  of  bone  the  size  of  half  a  dollar,  two  rows  of 
body  lice  were  carved  around  the  margin,  under  which 
was,  "  Richmond  Prison  Association,"  and  in  the  center  the 
motto,  "  Bite  and  be  damned."  Then  we  had  a  sign, 
which  was  to  scratch  under  the  arm  with  vigor.  We  would 
often  sing  our  prison  song,  only  the  last  verse  of  which  I 
will  quote  : 

"  And  when  we  arrive  in  the  land  of  the  free, 
They  will  smile  and  welcome  us  joyfully  ; 
And  when  we  think  of  the  Rebel  band, 
Well   repeat  our  motto,   Bite,  and  be  damned  !" 


Up  to  this  time  Gen.  W'inder  has  been  Provost  Marshal 
of  Richmond,  and  under  him  is  Lieut.  Todd,  a  brother  of 
Airs.  Lincoln,  who  has  immediate  charge  of  the  prisoners. 
Me  has  two  assistants,  Lieut.  Emac  and  Sergeant  Wirtz 
(also  spelled  Wirz,  Wurz). 

Lieut.  Emac  was  a  West  Point  graduate,  and  he  and 
Wirtz  were  connected  with  the  two  companies  of  United 
States  soldiers  now  guarding  us.  These  two  companies 
were  stationed  in  Richmond  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
and  went  over  in  a  body  to  the  Confederate  States. 

(It  will  be  remembered  that  after  the  close  of  the  war 
Wirtz  was  tried,  condemned  and  executed  by  our  govern 
ment,  it  having  been  proved  that  he  had  killed  some  of  the 
prisoners  while  in  command  at  Andersonville.) 


204  RECORD   OF  2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Lieut.  Todd  is  vicious  and  brutal  in  his  treatment  of  the 
prisoners,  and  seldom  enters  the  prison  without  grossly  in 
sulting  some  of  the  men.  He  always  comes  in  with  a 
drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and  his  voice  and  manner  indi 
cate  his  desire  to  commit  some  cruel  wrong.  I  have 

o 

seen   him    strike  a  wounded  prisoner  who  was  lying  on  the 
floor,  and  cut  a  heavy  gash  across  hi-,  thigh  with  his  sword. 

After  a  time  Todd  was  sent  to  the  front,  and  was  after 
wards  killed  in  battle.  Two  other  brothers  of  Mrs  Lin 
coln  were  also  killed  while  in  the  Confederate  service- 
Whenever  we  go  too  near  the  window  we  are  likely  to  be 
fired  at  by  the  guard.  The  first  man  killed  by  the  guard 
was  private  M.  C.  Beck,  of  the  /Qth  Regiment.  He  was 
instantly  killed  while  he  was  hanging  his  blanket  up  by  the 
window.  The  next  was  R.  Gleason,  of  the  New  York  Fire 
Zouaves,  who  was  killed  while  looking  from  the  window. 
The  guard  is  said  to  have  remarked,  as  he  leveled  his  mus 
ket:  "  See  me  take  that  -  -  Zouave  in  the  eye  !"  The 
ball  entered  his  forehead  and  he  instantly  fell — dead  !  Four 
others  were  seriously  wounded  in  this  manner,  and  Charles 
VV.  Tibbetts,  of  Co.  "  K,"  of  our  regiment,  was  instantly 
killed  by  a  guard  in  a  most  cruel  manner.  The  prisoners 
are  permitted  to  visit  in  couples  an  out-house  in  the  prison 
yard,  and  Tibbetts  and  companion  were  going  thither  inside 
the  guard-line,  when  a  sentinel  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street  raised  his  piece  and  fired  at  them.  The  ball  passed 
through  the  breast  of  Tibbetts  and  wounded  his  compan 
ion  in  the  arm.  The  indignation  of  the  prisoners  towards 
these  skulking  and  cowardly  assassins  can  find  no  ade 
quate  expression.  Yet  as  the  bleeding  forms  of  their  mur 
dered  comrades  are,  one  after  another,  borne  from  their 
presence  to  the  "  negro  burying  ground,"  they  feel  that  a 
day  of  retribution,  however  long  deferred,  will  surely  come. 
It  is  even  said  that  the  guards  are  promised  promotion  if 
they  shoot  a  prisoner. 

No  menagerie  was  ever  regarded  with  more  general  inter 
est  and  curiosity  in  a  country  village  than  are  the  Union 
prisoners  in  the  tobacco  warehouses  of  Richmond.  They 


IIARWOOD'S  TOBACCO  WAREHOUSE. 


205 


arc  the  standard  attraction  of  people  of  both  sexes,  all 
ages,  and  every  variety  of  shade.  On  Sundays,  more  par 
ticularly,  the  citizens  turn  out  in  squads,  and  from  morn 
ing  till  night  the  street  is  blockaded  with  eager  spectators. 


RICHMOND    ToHACCO  WAREHOUSE — PRISON    NO.    I. 

Prison  No.  I  is  a  lofty  building,  three  stories  in  height, 
its  interior  dimensions  being  70  feet  in  length  by  26  in 
width.  The  second  and  third  stories  are  occupied  by 
private  soldiers  (captured  at  Bull  Run),  and  the  lower  floor 
by  the  commissioned  officers  and  a  number  of  civilians, 
among  whom  is  the  Hon.  Alfred  Ely.  It  is  the  most 
crowded  and  filthy  prison  of  all;  there  are  130  and  often 
150  men  on  one  floor.  At  night  the  prisoners  stretch 
themselves  upon  the  bare  floor,  uncovered  ;  and  at  meal 
time  they  sit  upon  the  floor,  ranged  against  the  walls,  and 
devour  whatever  they  can  get. 

One  cannot  conceive  a  more  gloomy  and  revolting  spec 
tacle  than  a  look  into  these  fi.'thy  quarters.  Imagine  a 
hundred  haggard  faces  and  emaciated  forms — some  with 
hair  and  beard  of  three  months'  growth— so  miserably 
clothed,  in  general,  as  to  scarcely  serve  the  purposes  of 
decency,  and  many  limping  from  the  pain  of  unhealed 
wounds,  and  some  faint  conception  may  be  obtained  of  our 
wretched  condition. 

The  "  standard  bill  of  fare,"  which  has  now  been  adopted, 
is  as  follows  :  About  nine  o'clock  we  receive  our  morning 
ration  of  bread,  beef  and  water,  about  half  as  much  as  a 


206  RECORD    OF   2;T1I    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS. 

well  man  would  naturally  require.  Our  second  and  only 
other  meal  is  received  about  4  o'clock,  and  consists  of  bread, 
and  soup  made  from  the  water  in  which  the  beef  was 
boiled.  The  prisoners,  sick  or  well,  are  compelled  to  accept 
it  or  go  without. 

The  question  of  "  exchange  "  is  naturally  uppermost  in 
the  mind  of  every  prisoner,  and  is  at  intervals  an  untiring 
theme  of  discussion,  One  has  but  to  lisp  the  word  and  a 
crowd  of  hib  associates  instantly  gathers  about  him,  can 
vassing  the  subject  with  as  much  interest  and  energy  as 
though  it  were  newly  broached,  and  extracting  fresh  en 
couragement  from  every  sage  or  emphatic  prediction  of  a 
speedy  release. 

It  was  our  first  impression  that  we  would  be  detained  but 
a  few  days  ;  that  the  Federal  Government  needed  only 
to  be  apprised  of  our  situation,  and  our  numbers,  to  proffer 
the  requisite  exchange  from  the  prisoners  in  its  own  cus 
tody.  This  opinion  at  length  yielded  to  the  belief  that 
another  advance  was  contemplated,  and  that  our  destiny 
depended,  in  a  great  measure,  upon  the  result  of  a  second 
battle.  A  new  apprehension  here  presented  itself,  for  it 
was  openly  threatened  by  the  rebels  that,  in  the  event  of 
their  defeat  at  Manassas,  the  Union  prisoners  would  be 
massacred  by  the  confederate  soldiers  in  Richmond. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Richmond  press  was 
particularly  hostile  to  the  prisoners,  and  recommended 
filling  the  navy  yard  at  Pensacola  with  Union  prisoners, 
arguing  that  our  troops  would  then  be  compelled  either  to 
sacrifice  our  own  men  or  to  withhold  an  attack. 

Harrassed  by  such  reports,  we  still  remain  in  Richmond, 
and  as  the  weary  days  and  weeks  are  added  to  our  confine 
ment,  without  affording  the  slightest  prospect  of  release, 
many  of  the  most  hopeful  become  disheartened.  The  offi 
cial  indifference  manifested  at  Washington  towards  us 
seems  unaccountable.  We  cannot  understand  why  the 
government  is  unwilling  to  exchange  or  even  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  men  who  have  fought  honorably  in  its  de 
fence,  and  are  not  only  prisoners,  but  are  known  to  be 


HOW    WE    PESTERED    WIRTZ.  2O/ 

suffering  for  want  of  food  and  clothing.  Yet  notwithstand 
ing  these  discouragements,  at  no  time  would  our  boys  con- 
sent  to  receive  their  exchange  at  the  sacrifice  of  a  single 
principle  involving  the  national  honor. 

Notwithstanding  the  inferior  quality  and  quantity  of  our 
food,  sometimes  under  the  administration  of  Wirtz  we  got 
nothing  but  bread  and  water.  The  escapes  from  the  prison 
were  numerous.  About  one  hundred  in  all  succeeded  in 
getting  away,  but  all  except  a  very  few  were  recaptured. 
Whenever  an  escape  was  discovered,  which  was  usually  two 
or  three  days  after  the  prisoner  had  gone,  Wirtz  would  en 
ter  the  prison  in  a  towering  passion  and  command  the  prjs- 
oners  to  fall  in  for  roll-call.  His  jargon  was  excessively 
amusing,  and  whenever  the  prisoners  affected  to  misunder 
stand,  he  was  thrown  into  a  spasmodic  rage.  Some  one 
would  usually  respond  for  the  fugitive,  and  Wirtz  could  sel 
dom  find  out  who  it  was  that  had  escaped.  He  would  then 
demand  to  know  how  they  had  made  their  escape,  but  the 
prisoners  would  refuse  to  answer  any  of  his  queries.  l4  Tell, 
me,"  he  would  say,  "  or  you  shall  never  be  so  sorry  in  your 
life.  I  shall  keep  you  tree  tays  on  pred  and  wasser.  "  Oh, 
ho ! "  would  shout  a  dozen  voices,  "  Three  cheers  for 
Wirtz.  He  will  feed  us  three  days  on  bread  and  butter  !  " 
"  No,  no  !  you  tarn  villians,  I  say  pred  and  wasser — wasser, 
and  not  busser  !"  And  he  proved  as  good  as  his  word. 

At  one  extremity  of  the  prison,  on  the  second  floor,  was  a 
small  room  that  had  been  used  as  an  office,  in  which  had 
been  stored  a  quantity  of  tobacco,  and  a  barrel  of  sweetened 
rum,  used  in  flavoring  the  same.  The  door  had  been  nailed 
up,  but  the  boys,  aided  by  a  saw  made  from  a  case-knife, 
effected  an  entrance,  and  confiscated  sufficient  "  Old  Vir 
ginia  Twist "  to  last  for  several  months ;  and  as  to  the 
sweetened  rum,  the  boys  were  rapturous  over  this  unex 
pected  discovery.  Sergeant  Wirtz  was  not  long  in  ascer 
taining  that  the  "  tarn  Yankees,"  as  he  invariably  called  us, 
were  in  unusual  "  spirits"  and  because  he  could  not  find 
out  how  the  boys  obtained  their  "  fire-water,"  he  flew  into  a 
paroxysm  of  rage,  and  determined  to  punish  the  whole 


2O8  RECORD    OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

crowd,  and  the  sentence  was,  as    before,  "  Three   days  on 
bread  and  water." 

The  "  Poet  "  of  Prison  No.  2  could  not  resist  the  impulse 
to  immortalize  our  PRISON  BILL  OF  FARK,  and  his  efforts 
resulted  in  the  following  production  : 

First,  at  the  sink,  having  performed  ablution, 

This  problem,    "  What's  for  break  fast  f  needs  solution; 

Like  others  not  in  Euclid,  oft  'tis  found 

To  tax  researches  that  are  most  profound. 

At  length  'tis  solved,  when,  on  his  sapient  head, 

A  colored  "gemman"  brings  a  loaf  of  bread, — 

Not  common  loaves,  as  in  the  shop  you'll  find. 

Such  large  affairs  must  suit  the  vulgar  mind. 

Our  friends  take  care  our  better  tastes  to  meet, 

So  send  us  loaves  that  are  unique  and  neat  ; 

Our  longing  eyes  upon  the  batch  we  fix, 

Then  quickly  eat  our  rations — ounces  six  ; 

So  justly  are  our  appetites  defined, 

These  loaves  are  not  the  largest  of  their  kind  ; 

To  season  them  withal,  our  friends  allow 

Three  ounces  of  some  lately  butchered  cow, — 

How  long  ago  we  say  not,  but  the  smell 

Would  indicate  it  rather  hard  to  tell  ; 

The  doubt,  however,  is  not  worth  discussing, 

Such  things  create  unnecessary  fussing  ; 

Besides,  it  would  be  wrong  to  heed  such  stuff, — 

Rulv  it  with  salt,  it  then  goes  well  enough. 

Thus,  you  perceive,  all  works  have  been  at  fault, 

To  doubt  the  potency  of  Richmond  salt  ; 

It  sweetens  and  removes  a  doubtful  flavor. 

We  once,  indeed,  had  coffee,  but  we  fear 

Our  friends  have  found  the  article  too  dear  ; 

So  now,  we  eat  our  sumptuous  breakfast  dry  ; 

For,  even  they  use  coffee  made  from  rye. 

Some  time  we  Yankees  may  the  secret  steal, 

And  make  pure  Java  from  bad   Indian  meal  ; 

At  all  their  little  failings  we  must  wink, 

And  so  ad  libitum,  foul  water  drink. 

Such  is  our  morning  meal  ;  now,    "what's  for  dinner?" 

Asks  some  insatiate,  half-starved  sinner, 

As  if  the  bounty  of  our  Christian  friends 

Was  not  enough  to  answer  nature's  ends. 

The  fellow  craves,  till  problem  number  two 

Calls  the  attention  of  a  hungry  crew, 

That  in  a  corner  squat,  in  deep  reflection, 

Like  Cabinet  ministers,  on  home  protection. 

With  busy  hands,  at  length,  their  pates  they  scratch, 


PRISON    BILL   OF   FARE.  209' 

As  if  their  brains  a  dinner  there  could  hatch  ; 

'Twould  seem  they  had,  with  one  consent,  resolved 

To  scratch  until  the  problem  had  been  solved. 

Others,  again,  beguile  the  weary  hours 

With  quiet  game  of  cribbage,  or  all  fours  ; — '• 

Wrapt  in  a  cloud  of  smoke  from  morn  till  noori, 

They  don't  expect  a  dinner  from  the  moon. 

The  sick  lie  on  the  floor,  as  mute  as  mice, — 

Poor  devils  !  thankful  for  a  little  rice  ; 

While  lame  and  lazy,  seeming  ill  at  ease, 

Are  laying  plans  their  hunger  to  appease. 

Some  fellows  who  are  luck)',  having. money — 

Though  Yankees  think  the  medium  rather  funny — • 

With  bogus  bills,  of  small  denominations, 

Contrive  to  add  a  little  to  their  rations  ; 

And  eat  at  noon,  without  a  guilty  blush, 

A  pint  of  Indian  meal,  made  into  mush  ; 

Another  brings  to  view  his  precious  store, — 

A  bone,  that  he  had  picked  too  well  before  ; 

This — (our  pants  inform  us  we  are  thinner) — 

Makes  the  sum  total  of  our  prison  dinner. 

I  now  shall  place  in  order  proper, 

The  dainty  items  of  our  prison  supper  : 

At  five  o'clock,  and  sometimes  half-past  five, 

A  humming  sound  is  heard  throughout  the  hive  ; 

The  boarders  think  their  supper  rather  late, 

And  beat  the  devil's  tattoo  upon  each  plate  ; 

Some  get  impatient,  and  the  rest  they  choke, 

In  stifling  clouds  of  vile  tobacco  smoke  ; 

For,  be  it  known,  a  hogshead  found  up-stairs, 

Affords  the  boys  a  chance  to   "  put  on  airs," 

So  those  to  whom  the  habit  is  quite  new, 

Can  smoke  a  pipe,  or  take  a  luscious  chew. 

But  as  the  boarders  throng  around  the  door. 

Our  colored   "gemman  "  enters  as  before  ; 

With  graceful  dignity  his  load  removes, 

While  some  thin  wretch  his  tardiness  reproves. 

Meanwhile  another  of  the  sable  race, 

Whose  comic  grin  o'erspreads  his  ebon  face, 

Upon  his  neighbor's  heels  had  followed  close, 

And  in  his  hands  a  curious  looking  dose  ; 

But  something  floating  meets  the  boarders'  view, — 

It  must  be — yes,  it  is  an  Irish  stew. 

Just  then  the  eyes  of  hungry  sinners  gleam, 

Extended  nostrils  scent  the  fragrant  steam  ; 

The  grinning  darkey  on  his  fingers  blows, — 

His  scalded  hands  to  impatient  boarders  shows, 

Then  leaves  his  steaming  bucket  on  the  floor, 


210  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

And,  with  another  grin,  he  shuts  the  door. 

Now,  anxious  to  inspect  the  savory  mess, 

The  hungry  boarders  round  the  bucket  press  ; 

But,  short  and  tall,  their  open  mouths  they  droop, — 

Their  Irish  stew  is  regulation  soup. 

Their  happiness  is  changed  to  speechless  grief, 

The  water,  this,  in  which  they  boiled  their  beef ; 

Some  friendly  hand,  to  make  it  somewhat  thicker, 

Had  dropped  a  cracker  in  the  tasteless  liquor  : 

Of  this  each  boarder  shares  a  standard  .gill  ; 

It's  quite  enough,  and  warranted  to  kill. 

To  test  its  strength  on  us  is  their  intention, — 

All  the  ingredients  I  dare  not  mention. 

We  crumble  in  our  ounces,  six,  of  bread, 

Swallow  the  physic,  and  then  go  to  bed. 

This,  be  it  known,  is  on  hard  boards, 

The  best  the  prison  discipline  affords. 

Shades  of  the  epicures  of  ancient  Rome, 

Whose  deeds  aje  writ  in  many  an  ancient  tome  ; 

Ye  mighty  men,  whose  gastronomic  feats 

Were  sung  in  ballads,  in  Rome's  ancient  streets  ; 

Whose  wondrous  deeds  by  Plato  have  been  noted, 

And  crests  by  modern  epicures  been  quoted, 

Hold  fast  your  laurels,  for  in   Richmond  prison, 

E'en  at  this  day,  your  rivals  have  arisen, 

Who,  though  they  cannot  boast  a  second  course, 

Have  called  from  morn  until  their  throats  were  hoarse  ; 

Insatiate  men,  whose  inwards  nought  can  fill, 

Not  even  tubs  of  stuff"  called  wholesome  swill  ; 

Who  crammed  their  stomachs  with  suspicious  beef, 

Would  taint  the  fingers  of  a  starving  thief, 

Whose  hungry  eyes,  most  starting  from  their  sockets, 

Proclaiming  they  are  starving  men,  with  empty  pockets, 

Who  eat  with  gusto  the   Confederate  swill, 

That  would  a  famished  jackal  surely  kill  ; 

Assembled  'round  Secession's  filthy  tub, 

Hyena-like,  their  eyes  devour  their  grub  ; 

Nor  can  they  have  it  in  their  hands  too  soon, 

But  bolt  it,  dog-like,  without  fork  or  spoon, — 

Then,  with  a  rag,  moustaches  must  they  wipe. 

Such  rare  perfection,  in  the  mystic  art, 

Might  cause  the  souls  of  richer  men  to  start. 

The  famous  sojer  may  safely  hood  it, 

That  he  and  all  his  tribe  have  got  to  hood  it, 

And  open  shops  where  science  is  unknown, 

In  some  place  bordering  on  the  frigid  /one, 

And  tell  the  epicure,  he  may  find  there 

His  fame  was  lost  by  this,  our  BILL  OF  FARE  ! 


OFF   FOR    NEW    ORLEANS.  211 

September  2Oth. — Our  fears  about  being  sent  further 
south  are  to  be  realized,  and  a  squad  of  250  are  to  start  for 
New  Orleans  to-morrow,  to  be  followed  in  a  day  or  two 
by  250  more.  It  is  sad  to  think  of  being  sent  so  far  away 
from  home,  more  than  fifteen  hundred  miles,  and  no  pros 
pect  of  being  released.  The  papers  say  they  are  to  send 
us  south  so  the  fevers  will  kill  us  off  more  rapidly. 

September  2ist. — Orders  were,  to  be  ready  to  start  at 
3  o'clock  this  morning,  and  many  of  the  men  did  not  lie 
down  at  all,  but  sat  up,  sang  songs,  cheered  for  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  and  made  night  ring.  One  would  have  thought 
we  were  the  happiest  lot  of  men  that  ever  were  together. 
The  other  prisoners  hearing  our  shouts,  took  them  up,  and 
did  all  they  could  to  disturb  the  rebel  city.  The  officers 
threatened  to  fire  on  us,  but  could  not  make  us  keep  still. 
We  did  not  go,  however,  till  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
One  of  the  men  was  shot  dead  by  the  guard,  while  standing 
near  the  window.  This  makes  the  fifth  man  that  has  been 
killed  by  the  sentries  firing  into  the  window.  Before  leav 
ing  I  was  allowed  to  go  over  to  the  hospital  and  bid  good 
bye  to  the  men  for  whom  I  had  cared  so  long.  I, passed 
from  cot  to  cot,  and  received  a  kind  farewell  from  all 

Harry  Stewart,  one  of  our  men,  had  lived  in  Richmond, 
and  left  the  city  only  a  month  before  the  battle.  He  has  a 
sweetheart  here  by  the  name  of  Sarah  Sowards.  When  we 
first  came  here,  she  was  allowed  to  visit  the  prison  and 
bring  food  and  presents  to  Harry  ;  but  after  a  little  time 
the  officers  would  not  allow  this,  and  she  had  to  content 
herself  by  walking  past  the  prison  every  day,  hoping  to  get 
a  look  at  her  friend  through  the  grated  window.  To-day, 
having  heard  that  we  were  to  leave  Richmond,  she  came 
down  early  in  the  morning,  accompanied  by  a  lady  friend, 
to  watch  if  perchance  she  might  get  a  parting  word  with 
Harry.  But  Harry  was  sick.  The  fever  had  attacked  him, 
and  he  lay  in  a  half  stupor  on  the  floor.  His  comrades 
raised  him  so  that  he  could  look  out  of  the  window.  No 
word  or  sign  could  pass  between  them,  as  the  officers  were 
watching. 


212  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

At  last  the  order  came  to  go.  We  were  supplied  with 
three  days'  rations  of  bread  and  bacon.  A  strong  guard 
wa.s  drawn  up  on  each  side  of  the  street,  to  keep  us 
and  escort  us  to  the  depot.  We  bade  adieu  to  comrades 
who  were  left  behind,  and  there  was  many  a  sad  parting. 
We  left  with  them  messages  to  be  taken  to  our  home 
friends,  as  it  was  expected  that  those  who  remained  would 
soon  be  exchanged.  My  friend  Trowbridge  was  not  to  go. 
I  tried  to  persuade  him  that  we  should  not  be  parted,  but 
he  felt  too  weak  to  undertake  the  journey.  He  thought  he 
would  soon  go  home,  and  promised  to  tell  my  friends  about 
me.  And  so  we  parted,  never  to  meet  on  earth  again.  In 
two  weeks  after  I  left  him,  he  starved  to  death. 

And  now  we  are  in  the  street  and  breathe  fresh  air  once 
more.  From  the  windows  of  all  the  other  prisons  were 
waved  many  a  friendly  salute  and  warm  good-bye.  By  a 
preconcerted  plan,  when  the  order  came  to  march,  one 
cried,  "  Three  cheers  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes,"  and  al 
though  the  guards  charged  bayonets  and  threatened  to 
shoot,  three  heartier  cheers  never  went  up  for  the  dear  old 
flag.  Then  the  other  prisons  took  it  up,  and  cheer  upon 
cheer  from  those  brave  hearts  followed  us  as  we  marched 
through  the  streets  of  that  doomed  city.  We  soon  reached 
the  depot  and  went  on  board  the  cars.  Harry's  friend  had 
followed  us,  and  stood  near  the  cars,  weeping  bitterly,  but 
the  guard,  with  his  bayonet  before  her,  would  not  let  her 
speak  nor  come  near.  Many  of  the  people  who  were  stand 
ing  by  were  moved  to  tears,  and  begged  the  soldier  to  let 
her  pass.  The  cars  started.  She  seized  hold  of  the  mus 
ket,  threw  it  aside,  rushed  by  the  guard  and  seized  her 
lover's  hand  and  said  good-bye.  Harry  was  sick  through 
all  the  journey,  but  recovered  and  returned  home  Sarah 
was  imprisoned  by  her  own  people  as  a  Union  sympathizer, 
and  suffered  untold  hardships  through  the  war. 

But  to  go  on  with  our  journey.  We  ride  on  open  plat 
form  cars  and  reach  Petersburg,  the  third  station  from 
Richmond.  The  country  so  far  is  very  poor,  the  soil  being 
sandy  loam.  Forests  of  yellow  pine  are  plenty  all  the  way 


A    FREE    RtDE   THROUGH    THE   CONFEDERACY.        213 

Corn  is  the  chief  crop,  and  it  is  poor  indeed.  We  changed 
cars  at  Petersburg,  and  now  ride  in  passenger  cars  with 
plank  seats.  One  of  our  men — John  Stout,  of  Co.  "  C  ' 
while  passing  through  the  cars  (it  being  dark)  fell  and  broke 
his  thigh.  We  took  him  out,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  hospi 
tal,  but  none  of  his  comrades  were  allowed  to  remain  with 
him.  He  recovered,  and  returned  home  before  we  did. 

Sunday,  September  22d. — It  has  rained  hard  all  night. 
As  we  approach  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  the  crops  look  better 
than  in  the  vicinity  ot  Petersburgh.  We  pass  fields  of  cot 
ton,  sweet  potatoes,  and  immense  forests  of  yellow  pine, 
which  extend  clear  on  to  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  where  we 
arrive  about  5  o'clock.  This  is  a  pleasant  city.  A  great 
number  of  people  are  out  to  see  us,  and  deride  us  at  a  great 
rate.  Here  we  left  the  cars,  and  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  river 
by  ferry.  Some  of  the  boys  proposed  that  we  overpower 
the  guards,  seize  the  boat  and  run  down  the  river  to  the 
blockade  fleet,  but  there  was  so  little  time  that  the  plan  could 
not  be  perfected,  and  the  rebel  officers,  suspecting  the  plot, 
strengthened  the  guard  and  made  every  plan  to  frustrate  us. 

September  23d. — We  pass  on  through  a  country  with 
splendid  scenery  all  the  way  to  Sumter,  S.  C.,  where  an  im 
mense  number  of  people  had  gathered  to  see  the  "Yankees." 
At  Kingsville  we  remained  three  hours,  to  cook  bacon. 
Our  food  is  bread  and  bacon.  We  reached  Orangeburgh 
about  sunset.  This  is  a  beautiful  village  and  there  is  a 
large  female  seminary  located  here.  Many  of  the  pupils, 
"  pretty  secesh  girls,"  came  down  to  see  us. 

We  reached  Augusta,  Ga.,  about  2  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing.  Here,  even  at  this  unseasonable  hour,  we  found  a 
very  large  number  of  citizens  assembled  to  see  us.  They 
hooted  and  yelled  at  us  all  the  time,  like  so  many  fiends, 
but  we  were  not  allowed  to  retaliate  with  a  word.  From 
here  we  pass  on  to  Atlanta,  and  on  to  Montgomery,  Ala., 
and  are  now  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Confederacy.  Mont 
gomery  was  the  Confederate  capital  until  the  day  before 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  when  it  was  moved  to  Richmond. 
Here  we  were  treated  more  civilly  by  the  people,  and  there 


214  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

were  not  so  many  out  to  see  us  as  in  some  of  the  smaller 
places  through  which  we  passed. 

September  26th. — Breakfasted  on  hard  bread  and  bacon, 
about  8  o'clock,  when  we  went  on  board  a  steamer  and 
started  down  the  Alabama  river,  for  Mobile.  The  ride 
is  not  very  pleasant,  as  we  are  kept  on  the  lower  deck, 
and  the  banks  of  the  river  are  so  high  that  we  cannot  look 
out  upon  the  country.  We  do  not  like  sailing  under  the 
rebel  flag  ;  but  when  we  remember  that  the  bunting  from 
which  it  was  made  was  stolen  from  us,  and  is  good  Union 
stuff,  it  is  not  so  bad. 

September  27th.— I  have  not  slept  well  during  the  night. 
The  engines  made  a  noise  like  thunder,  and  I  had  to  lie 
close  beside  one.  No  sleep  would  come  to  my  eyes,  so  I 
do  not  feel  well  this  morning.  We  breakfasted  on  a  small 
piece  of  corn  cake  and  bacon.  We  do  not  get  half  enough 
to  eat. 

At  daylight,  the  28th,  we  arrived  in  Mobile  bay,  and  as 
we  sailed  down  to  the  city  we  were  favored  with  a  gorgeous 
sunrise  on  the  waters,  which  for  a  time  took  away  all 
thought  of  our  forlorn  condition. 

o 

We  were  escorted  through  the  city  to  the  Jackson  depot 
by  two  companies  of  home  guards,  in  new  uniforms,  the 
finest  dressed  soldiers  that  we  have  seen  at  the  South.  We 
were  put  on  board  of  box  cars  with  plank  seats,  and  arrived 
at  Jackson,  Miss.,  at  I  P.  M.,  Sunday,  the  2Qth,  having  had 
nothing  to  eat  since  we  left  Mobile,  24  hours  before.  Jack 
son  is  a  most  beautiful  city,  built  upon  a  sloping  hill.  The 
streets  are  wide,  paved,  and  lined  with  a  great  many  shade 
trees.  The  public  buildings,  on  a  hill  to  the  right,  are  very 
fine.  The  people  turned  out  en  masse,  the  churches  closed, 
and  all  made  a  rush  to  see  the  "  Yankees."  They  were 
surprised  to  find  that  we  looked  like  their  own  men,  sup 
posing  that  a  u  Yankee  "  was  some  kind  of  an  animal.  We 
had  a  great  deal  of  sport  chafing  them,  playing  upon 
their  credulity  and  turning  jokes  upon  the  guard  that  was 
with  us,  who,  like  ourselves,  were  jaded  with  their  nine 
days'  ride.  A  good  dinner  was  served  to  the  guard  by  the 


\\IIAT    DID    YOU    COME   DOWN    HERE   FOR?  215 

citizens,  and  the  remnants  of  this  dinner  were  given  to  the 
prisoners.     I  was  hard  sick  and  not  able  to  eat  anything. 

Soon  after  dark  we  left  Jackson,  and  arrived  in  New 
Orleans  in  the  forenoon  of  the  following  day.  Here  we 
found  a  larger  crowd  than  at  any  previous  place,  but  the 
troops  were  not  ready,  and  the  officers  in  charge  fearing 
that  the  mob  would  ill  treat  us,  ordered  the  train  to  back 
out  of  the  city  several  miles.  About  noon  the  train  ran  in 
again,  and  found  them  ready  for  us.  The  soldiers  had  driven 
the  crowd  back  from  the  depot,  and  were  drawn  up  in  open 
ranks  to  receive  us,  making  a  fine  display.  All  who  were 
able  to  walk  were  ordered  out  of  the  cars  into  the  line,  and, 
escorted  by  this  large  body  of  soldiers,  were  marched  nearly 
all  over  the  city.  Everywhere  there  was  an  immense  crowd 
of  people.  The  housetops  were  covered,  the  windows  and 
every  available  spot  were  thronged  with  curious  gazers,  all 
anxious  to  get  a  sight  of  the  prisoners.  The  most  of  them 
looked  on  in  silence,  but  many  hooted  and  derided  us 
shamefully.  When  we  reached  the  city,  I  was  very  sick 
too  weak  to  stand,  and  was  lying  on  the  floor  of  the  car 
That  fiend,  Wirtz,  in  whose  charge  we  are  traveling,  came 
through  the  car  after  the  others  were  out,  and  finding  me 
still  there,  gave  me  a  kick  and  told  me  to  crawl  out,  which 
I  did,  and  sank  down  helpless  on  the  platform.  Two  other 
sick  comrades  were  found,  and  we  were  put  in  charge  of  a 
policeman.  While  we  lay  here,  nearer  dead  than  alive,  a 
crowd  of  unfeeling  men  and  boys  gathered  around  us  and 
commenced  the  same  tune  that  we  have  heard  at  every 
place  through  which  we  have  passed  :  "  What  did  you  come 
down  here  for  ?  Think  you  can  subjugate  us?  Come 
down  here  to  destroy  our  homes  and  firesides  ?  You  miser 
able  Yanks,  you  ought  to  die."  Such  was  our  welcome  to 
New  Orleans.  The  police  soon  drove  off  the  crowds,  and 
told  them  they  were  cowards  for  insulting  unarmed  pris 
oners.  After  a  little,  the  sick  were  put  on  a  two- 
wheel  dray  or  "  float,"  without  springs,  and,  drawn 
by  a  couple  of  mules,  we  started  on  to  bring  up  the 
rear  of  the  column.  Too  sick  to  hold  our  heads  up  from 


2l6  RECORD   OF   2JTII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

the  platform,  we  were  jolted  for  hours  over  the  pavement. 
Occasionally  there  was  a  friendly  face  mid  all  that  vast 
throng  which  was  following  us,  and  once,  when  the  line 
halted,  a  man  came  near  and  asked  if  I  was  a  prisoner.  I 
told  him  I  was,  and  he  threw  me  a  half  dollar  in  silver,  and 
another  for  the  comrade  who  was  with  me.  Soon  after 
this,  as  we  halted  again,  a  young  lady  came  near  and  in  a 
kindly  manner  asked  about  our  condition,  and  where  we 
were  from.  She  brought  something  for  us  to  eat,  and  sev 
eral  times,  as  the  line  halted,  brought  us  a  refreshing  drink 
of  water,  and  kept  near  us  through  all  the  long  march. 

We  did  not  know  our  destination,  but  at  last  the  line 
halted  in  front  of  Parish  Prison,  with  its  frowning,  gray 
walls  and  grated  windows.  The  sight  sent  a  shudder 
through  our  weak  frames.  Surely,  we  thought,  we  are  not 
to  be  incarcerated  here,  like  thieves  and  murderers.  But  it 
was  so.  The  men  were  thrust  into  the  dirty  cells  and  locked 
in  ;  prisoners  of  war  in  felons'  cells.  I  was  taken  to  the 
hospital,  on  the  second  floor,  where  I  remained  for  several 
weeks,  suffering  from  a  severe  attack  of  typhoid  fever.  In 
the  hospital  we  had  cots  and  moss  mattresses  to  lie  upon, 
but  we  received  very  little  attention  from  the  nurses,  who 
were  civil  prisoners.  After  coming  into  the  prison,  I  was 
left  for  two  weeks  before  my  hands  or  face  were  washed,  or 
my  clothes  taken  off,  or  once  lifted  from  the  bed.  About 
this  time  one  of  my  comrades,  George  Dunn,  of  Co.  "  C," 
was  allowed  to  come  in  and  see  me.  He  was  kind  enough 
to  take  my  clothes  to  the  yard  and  have  them  washed, 
and  afterwards  gave  me  a  sponge  bath.  From  this  time,  I 
began  to  improve,  and  after  seven  weeks  was  able  to  leave 
the  hospital.  The  doctor  came  in  every  morning,  but  hav 
ing  but  little  medicine,  he  could  do  us  no  good.  Morning 
after  morning,  as  he  would  pass  my  cot,  I  would  hear  him 
remark  to  the  nurse,  "  Isn't  he  dead,  yet?". 

Gen.  Palfrey  was  in  command  at  New  Orleans,  and  often 
came  in  to  see  the  prisoners,  and  many  of  the  citizens  were 
allowed  to  visit  the  hospital  and  prison.  A  few  Christian 
men  often  came  in  and  brought  us  instructive  books  to 


EXTERIOR  OF  PARISH  PRISON,  NEW  ORLEANS,  LA. 


INTERIOR  OF  PARISH  PRISON. 


218  RECORD   OF   2/TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

read,  and  showed  their  kindness  in  many  ways.  Among 
those  most  attentive  were  A.  D.  Donovan,  Rev.  G.  L.  Moore, 
and -- Bartlett ;  and  our  doctors,  C.  Beard,  W.  L.  Lips- 
comb,  and  —  Smith,  were  as  kind  as  they  were  allowed 
to  be. 

October  3 1st. — I  left  the  hospital  and  joined  my  com 
rades  in  the  prison  proper.  The  prison  is  built  in  the  form 
of  a  hollow  square — a  brick  wall  thirty  feet  high,  on  one 
side,  and  on  the  other  the  cells  in  three  tiers,  one  above 
the  other,  and  a  balcony  in  front  of  each.  Most  of  the 
cells  are  10x12  feet,  and  sixteen  men  are  confined  in  each 
cell.  Our  cell  is  12x20,  and  twenty-four  men  in  it.  There 
is  no  light,  and  only  a  small  hole  less  than  a  foot  square,  in 
the  middle  of  the  door,  for  ventilation,  and  this  space  is 
covered  with  iron  bars,  as  is  also  a  small  crescent-shaped 
opening  near  the  top  of  the  cell,  communicating  with  a  cell 
in  the  other  division  of  the  prison. 

The  men  are  kept  locked  in  these  cells  from  4  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  till  eight  next  morning.  It  is  very  warm,  and 
the  air  is  almost  stifling.  During  the  day,  the  doors  are 
opened,  and  a  part  of  the  men  at  a  time  are  allowed  to 
take  exercise  in  the  yard,  which  is  90x40  feet.  We  have 
few  blankets,  and  only  the  bare  floor  to  sleep  upon.  Each 
man  when  lying  down  occupies  a  floor  space  of  less  than 
sixteen  inches  wide.  So  we  have  to  lie  spoon-fashion,  and 
if  one  wants  to  turn  over,  the  word  is  given,  "  Spoon  !" 
and  all  must  turn  over  together.  In  one  corner  of  the  yard 
is  a  large  square  tank,  in  which  the  men  are  allowed  to 
bathe.  In  the  opposite  corner  is  the  cook-house,  containing 
two  large  iron  kettles,  in  which  all  the  cooking  is  done.  Water 
from  the  Mississippi  river  is  used  for  cooking  and  drinking, 
and  is  always  very  roilly.  Our  food  consists  of  bread, 
fresh  meat,  and  a  kind  of  tea  made  from  the  wild  youpong, 
a  plant  that  grows  along  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  States.  In 
the  morning  we  receive  a  small  loaf  of  wheat  bread,  weigh 
ing  about  eight  ounces,  and  a  pint  of  the  youpong  tea, 
without  sugar.  Fresh  meat,  the  refuse  from  the  city  mar 
kets,  is  brought  in  about  8  o'clock,  and  taken  to  the  cook- 


THE   STANDARD    REMEDY    FOR    SCURVY.  2IQ 

house  by  a  man  detailed  from  each  cell.  Here  it  is  boiled 
in  the  river  water  without  any  salt.  After  the  meat  is  cooked, 
a  little  rice  is  put  into  the  pot  liquor,  and  this  is  issued 
to  us  as  soup.  A  pint  of  this  soup  with  a  small  bit  of  the 
meat,  makes  our  dinner.  We  had  no  supper  during  the 
four  months  we  were  in  New  Orleans,  and  no  change  in  this 
diet,  except  at  one  time  thirteen  barrels  of  molasses  were 
sent  in  by  a  man  who  was  said  to  be  the  largest  slave 
holder  in  the  state.  At  another  time,  a  few  Irish  potatoes 
and  some  cabbage  were  issued  to  the  men,  to  be  eaten  raw, 
and  also  a  lot  of  wild  sour  oranges,  as  a  cure  for  the  scurvy, 
from  which  many  of  the  men  were  suffering. 

There  were  various  forms  in  which  scurvy  manifested 
itself.  The  most  common  was  a  soreness  of  the  mouth  and 
gums.  The  teeth  would  all  become  loose,  and  often  drop 
out  ;  no  solid  food  could  be  eaten.  In  another  form,  the 
limbs  of  the  patient  would  swell  to  an  immoderate  size  and 
turn  black.  Still  others  would  break  out  in  sores  and  erup 
tions  over  the  body.  The  standard  remedy,  when  it  could 
be  had,  was  raw  potatoes  or  cabbage,  with  a  little  vinegar, 
or  a  supply  of  wild  oranges,  which  are  about  three  degrees 
sourer  than  a  lemon. 

A  large  number  of  the  men  busy  themselves  making 
rings,  little  books,  watch  charms  and  trinkets  from  the 
pieces  of  bones  found  in  the  beef  ;  and  when  we  cannot  get 
bones  enough,  the  guards  sometimes  bring  them  to  the 
door  and  sell  them  to  the  men.  Many  of  these  trinkets 
are  nicely  carved  and  inlaid  with  colored  sealing-wax,  and 
are  readily  sold  to  the  officers  and  visitors  who  come  in  to 
see  the  prisoners.  In  this  way  many  of  the  boys  are  able 
to  buy  extra  rations  for  themselves  and  do  not  suffer  so 
much  from  hunger. 

November  gth. — We  hear  a  rumor  to-day  that  our  forces 
have  captured  Port  Royal,  near  Savannah.  Our  confine 
ment  is  getting  almost  intolerable.  Many  of  the  men  think 
they  cannot  stand  it  much  longer.  We  pray  that  God  will 
keep  disease  from  our  midst,  and  that  He  will  give  us 
strength  until  the  appointed  time.  One  of  the  boys,  George 


220  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

T.  Childs,  from  Boston,  has  received  several  letters  from 
home  to-day,  and  a  trunk  containing  clothing. 

Sunday,  November  loth. — The  weather  continues  very 
warm.  We  had  preaching  this  morning  by  an  Episcopal 
minister.  His  text  was  from  Luke  xviii :  13.  It  was  not  a 
very  interesting  sermon.  He  angered  the  boys  very  much 
by  praying  for  Jefferson  Davis,  President  of  the  C.  S.  A. 
Most  of  the  boys  would  not  listen  to  him,  and  made  a 
great  deal  of  noise,  so  that  he  did  not  stay  long.  After 
wards  he  apologized  and  said  he  was  obliged  by  the  rules 
of  "  The  Church,"  to  always  remember  their  President  in 
his  prayer.  But  the  boys  u  could  not  see  it."  Mr.  Dono 
van  came  in  with  more  reading  matter.  There  is  a  ru 
mor,  that  there  is  to  be  an  exchange  of  prisoners  soon, 
but  we  dare  not  believe  it.  They  probably  say  it  to  keep 
up  our  spirits.  It  causes  a  great  deal  of  talk,  and  each 
asks  the  other  if  it  can  be  so.  Oh  !  such  a  longing  to  be 
free ;  no  one  not  a  prisoner  can  imagine  it.  We  held  a 
Bible-class  in  our  cell  at  3  o'clock.  It  was  attended  by 
twenty  or  more,  and  was  very  interesting.  The  lesson  was 
from  John  iii.  One  of  the  men,  a  minister  by  the  name  of 
Alexander  Parker,  /th  Ohio,  takes  charge  of  the  class. 

November  nth. — From  some  of  the  papers  that  are 
smuggled  in  once  in  a  while,  we  learn  that  provisions  are 
very  high  in  the  city.  Pork  is  not  to  be  had.  Salt  beef  is 
$32  per  barrel;  flour,  $10  to  $15;  corn  meal,  $1.50  per 
bushel ;  candles,  90  cts.  per  pound.  Molasses  and  rice  are 
the  only  things  that  are  cheap. 

November  I2th. — It  is  reported  in  the  papers  to-day,  that 
our  government,  having  sentenced  the  crew  of  the  privateer 
Savannah  to  be  hung,  the  rebels  have  selected  fourteen  of 
our  officers,  by  lot,  and  confined  them  in  a  dungeon  at 
Charleston,  and  threaten  to  retaliate  by  executing  them,  in 
case  the  above  sentence  is  carried  into  effect. 

The  following  is  from  the  diary  of  Corp.  Merrill,  who 
was  in  Richmond  at  the  time  : 

"  On  the  loth  of  November,  General  Winder  entered  the 
prison,  called  the  commissioned  officers  together,  and  read 
the  following  order,  as  addressed  to  himself : 


DRAWING    HOSTAGES    BY    LOT.  221 

C.  S.  A.  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  / 
RICHMOND,  Nov.,   1861.       ( 

SIR  :  —  You  are  hereby  instructed  to  choose  by  lot,  from  among  the 
prisoners  of  war  of  highest  rank,  one  who  is  to  be  confined  in  a  cell  ap 
propriated  to  convicted  felons,  and  who  is  to  be  treated  in  all  respects  as 
if  such  convict,  and  to  be  held  for  execution  in  the  same  manner  as  may 
be  adopted  by  the  enemy  for  the  execution  of  the  prisoner  of  war  Smith, 
recently  condemned  to  death,  in  Philadelphia. 

You  will  also  select  thirteen  other  prisoners  of  war,  the  highest  in  rank 
of  those  captured  by  our  forces,  to  be  confined  in  cells  reserved  for  pris 
oners  accused  of  infamous  crimes,  and  shall  treat  them  as  such  so  long  as 
the  enemy  shall  continue  to  treat  the  like  number  of  prisoners  of  war  cap 
tured  by  them,  in  New  York,  as  pirates.  As  these  measures  are  intended 
to  repress  the  infamous  attempt  now  made  by  the  enemy  to  commit  judi 
cial  murder  on  the  prisoners  of  war,  you  will  execute  them  strictly,  as 
the  best  mode  calculated  to  prevent  the  commission  of  so  heinous  a  crime. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

J.   P.   BENJAMIN, 

Acting  Secretary  of  War. 
To  Brigadier-General  John    Winder,  Richmond    Va. 

The  reading  of  this  order  was  listened  to  in  silence,  but 
with  deep  sensation.  At  its  conclusion,  Gen.  Winder  re 
marked  that  he  regretted  very  much  the  unpleasant  duty 
devolving  upon  him,  but  he  had  no  option  in  the  matter. 
The  names  of  six  colonels  were  placed  in  a  can,  and  Mr. 
Ely  was  required — much  to  his  own  reluctance — to  draw 
from  them. 

The  first  name  drawn  was  that  of  Col.  Corcoran,  6Qth 
Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  who  was  the  hostage  chosen  to  an 
swer  for  Smith.  Mr.  Ely  was  very  much  affected  when  the 
name  of  his  friend  and  messmate  was  drawn  by  his  own 
hand. 

In  choosing  thirteen  from  the  highest  rank,  to  be  held  to 
answer  fora  like  number  of  prisoners  of  war,  captured  by 
the  enemy  at  sea,  there  being  only  ten  field  officers,  it  was 
necessary  to  draw  by  lot  three  captains. 

During  the  drawing,  the  most  profound  silence  prevailed, 


RECORD   OF   27TII    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

and  great  anxiety  was  exhibited  on  the  part  of  the  officers 
whose  names  were  in  the  can. 

When  completed,  the  list  stood  :  Cols.  Corcoran,  Lee, 
Coggswell,  Wilcox,  Woodruff  and  Wood  ;  Lieutenant-Cols. 
Mowman  and  Neff ;  Majors  Potter,  Revere  and  Vodges ; 
Capts.  Rockwood,  Bowman  and  Kaffer." 

November  2oth. — One  of  the  nurses  having  been  dis 
charged,  I  was  asked  to  take  his  place  in  the  hospital,  and 
am  now  caring  for  the  sick.  There  are  four  of  us  connected 
with  the  hospital :  The  Steward,  W.  Blydenburgh,  of  the 
I4th  Brooklyn  ;  A.  F.  Rowland,  Clerk;  John  Paxson,  Cook. 

The  doctors  have  entire  charge  of  the  hospital,  and  feed 
us  better  than  the  contractor  feeds  the  men  in  the  yard. 
There  are  now  twelve  sick  in  the  hospital. 

I  remained  at  this  work  the  balance  of  the  time  that  we 
stayed  in  New  Orleans,  and  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  care  for  every 
man  who  died  while  we  were  in  Parish  Prison,  and  to  com 
fort  them  as  much  as  possible  in  their  last  hours.  It  is  a 
remarkable  fact  that,  although  many  of  the  men  had  the 
fever,  only  nine  died  out  of  the  five  hundred  who  were  sent 
here — as  the  papers  said — to  be  killed  off  by  the  fever. 

The  bodies  of  our  dead  comrades  were  never  buried,  but 
were  carried  out  into  the  swamps,  a  prey  for  the  buzzards 
and  hyenas. 

December  I2th. — The  same  routine  of  daily  duties  con 
tinues.  Time  is  passing  rapidly.  The  winter  is  now  upon 
us,  with  no  prospect  of  our  release  ;  and  unless  our  Congress 
does  something  to  settle  the  question  of  exchange,  we  must 
expect  to  remain  here  a  long  time.  It  will  seem  like  in 
gratitude  if  they  neglect  to  help  us.  I  have  read  President 
Lincoln's  message  to-day,  from  one  of  the  rebel  papers. 
He  does  not  mention  the  case  of  the  prisoners,  and  seems 
regardless  of  our  sufferings.  To-day  nine  prisoners  cap- 
turedjrom  the  blockading  fleet  were  brought  to  the  city 
and  confined  in  the  prison  with  us. 

December  25th,  Christmas  Day,  1861. — The  weather  is 
fine,  and  the  boys,  thinking  that  the  day  for  their  release  is 
not  far  distant,  are  feeling  pretty  well.  Theyshave  organ- 


MY    FIRST   LETTER   FROM    HOME:  22J 

ized  into  edmpariies;  and  to-day  had  a  rriasqlierade  drill  add 
inarch  in  the  yard,  which  made  a  great  deal  of  sport;  After 
this  we  had  a  good  time  singing  patriotic  songs,  cheering 
for  the  Flag  and  the  Union^  and  made  the  old  prison  ring; 
It  brought  comfort  to  five  hundred  loyal  hearts;  Those  of 
us  in  the  hospital  managed  to  get  some  red$  white  and  blue 
cloth  from  the  female  prisoners  in  the  other  department  of 
the  prison,  and  made  a  little  flag,  about  two  feet  loilg.  To 
day  I  took  it  out  into  the  long  hall,  and  when  the  officers 
were  not  about,  I  waved  it  from  a  window  overlooking  the 
yard.  Such  a  shout  as  went  up  when  the  boys  saw  it,  was 
never  heard  before  in  this  city.  The  noise  attracted  so  great  a 
crowd  about  the  prison  that  the  officers  came  in,  and  tried  to 
stop  us.  Then  they  locked  us  all  up,  but  the  boys  kept  up 
the  singing  until  late  into  the  night.  So,  after  all,  we  had 
a  "  Merry  Christmas." 

We  are  not  guarded  by  soldiers  here,  but  are  under  the 
civil  authorities,  and  the  turnkeys  are  all  civil  prisoners, 
whom  the  officers  send  in  to  lock  us  up.  These  men  come 
into  the  yard  jingling  a  bunch  of  ponderous  keys,  and 
shout  :  "  Get  to  your  holes,  you  -  -  Yankee  -  — s  !" 

Every  Sunday  we  hold  a  Bible-class  in  one  of  the  cells, 
and  for  some  time  a  daily  prayer-meeting  has  been  held. 

December  2/th. — Our  prayer-meeting  this  afternoon  was 
the  most  interesting  that  we  have  held,  and  was  attended 
by  about  forty,  all  crowded  into  a  single  cell.  One  sick 
man  was  made  a  special  subject  of  prayer.  Another  man 
expressed  his  determination  to  be  a  Christian.  There  was 
much  feeling,  and  although  in  these  peculiar  circumstances, 
we  were  happy. 

December  28th. — Oh  !  happy  am  I.  I  have  received  a 
letter  from  my  father  to-day — the  first  time  I  have  heard 
from  home  since  I  was  captured.  My  friends  have  heard 
where  I  am,  and  all  are  well  ;  but  the  letter  brings  the  sad 
news  of  the  death  of  my  comrade,  Charley  Trowbridge,  in 
Richmond. 

December  3<Dth. — The  Angel  of  Death  has  again  come  to 
us  and  taken  another  comrade,  by  the  name  of  Wing.  He 


224  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

died  at  three  this  morning,  after  an  illness  of  nine  weeks. 
He  was  a  nurse  in  the  hospital  when  I  was  sick,  and  little 
did  he  think  he  would  go  first.  He  had  as  good  care  as  I 
could  give  him,  and  I  think  he  died  happy.  He  was  very 
wicked  and  profane  during  the  first  part  of  his  sickness,  but 
I  have  talked  with  him  about  dying,  he  has  been  prayed 
for  in  the  meetings,  God  seemed  to  have  called  him,  and  he 
is  happy.  He  said  he  was  willing  to  give  up  this  world  for 
a  home  above. 

January  1st,  1862. — Another  man,  by  the  name  of  Beard, 
from  the  ;th  Ohio,  died  last  night.  He  had  been  sick 
about  a  week,  with  typhoid  fever.  He  had  a  hemorrhage 
of  the  bowels  about  8  o'clock,  and  died  about  11.  He  did 
not  know  of  his  condition  till  I  told  him  he  could  not  live 
till  morning.  Not  being  a  Christian,  he  desired  me  to  pray 
with  him,  which  I  did,  and  taught  him  to  pray  for  himsel  f 
He  repented  and  implored  forgiveness  of  his  Saviour,  and 
told  me  that  he  thought  his  prayer  was  heard  and  that  he 
would  be  happy  in  heaven.  It  was  a  solemn  New  Year 
night  to  us,  and  one  long  to  be  remembered. 

The  boys  are  rejoicing  greatly,  having  heard  that  the 
government  has  agreed  to  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  There 
is  now  some  hope  that  we  shall  be  released.  We  all  have 
"  exchange  on  the  brain." 

January  4th. — My  birthday;  twenty  years  old  to-day. 
We  are  not  allowed  the  city  papers,  and  can  only  get  them 
by  stealing  them  out  of  the  pockets  of  the  officers  or  the 
doctors,  or  sometimes  from  the  convicts  on  the  other  side 
of  the  prison.  To-day  some  of  the  officers  suspecting  that 
the  men  in  cell  No.  4  had  got  a  paper,  searched  all  the 
men  in  the  cell.  They  found  no  paper,  but  did  find  a  diary 
belonging  to  one  of  the  men.  This  man  was  taken  out  and 
put  in  irons,  locked  in  the  dungeon,  and  feel  on  bread  and 
water  for  many  days. 

The  shackles  which  they  sometimes  put  on  the  men, 
for  punishment,  weigh  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds,  and 
consist  of  two  iron  clevies,  which  encircle  the  ankle  ;  then 
an  iron  bar  is  put  through  the  eyes  of  the  clevies,  and  keyed 


GROSSLY    DECEIVED;  22$ 

in  by  a  bolt,  which  is  headed  down  with  a  heavy  sledge 
hammer.  These  cannot  be  removed  except  by  cutting  the 
key  with  a  cold  chisel.  We  were  then  told  that  they  would 
search  every  cell,  and  take  away  every  diary  they  found: 
So  I  have  to  hide  mine  in  a  rat  hole  in  the  floor,  and  at 
night  I  take  it  out  and  write  in  it. 

January  I5th. — To-day  we  have  each  received  a  new  suit 
of  clothes  from  our  government — a  hat,  coat,  blouse,  pants, 
shirt,  two  pairs  drawers,  shoes,  stockings,  and  overcoat. 
So  we  are  comfortably  clothed  once  more.  Many  of  the 
men  were  almost  naked,  and  all  of  us  were  without  under 
clothing.  We  are  feeling  very  happy  to-day.  My  health 
is  good.  Eleven  in  hospital. 

January  28th. — The  Massachusetts  men  have  each  re 
ceived  two  dollars,  which  was  sent  to  them  by  friends  at 
home. 

February  5th. — To-day  the  commanding  officer,  General 
Palfrey,  came  in  and  told  us  that  we  should  leave  to-morro\v 
for  the  North.  Many  of  the  boys  are  very  jubilant  at  the 
prospect  of  going  home,  but  some  of  us  dare  not  believe  it, 
for  our  enemies  are  very  treacherous.  A  brighter  day  must 
dawn  some  time.  None  of  the  men  have  ever  tried  to  tun 
nel  out  or  make  their  escape  from  this  prison,  as  they  often 
did  in  Richmond,  for  we  are  so  far  from  the  Union  lines,  it 
would  be  a  hopeless  task  to  attempt  to  reach  them. 

February  6th. — We  left  Parish  Prison,  the  whole  five 
hundred,  at  2  o'clock,  having  been  told  that  we  were  going 
to  North  Carolina  to  be  exchanged.  We  were  marched  to 
the  depot  through  the  same  street  by  which  we  came  to  the 
prison.  It  was  a  very  hot  and  sultry  day,  and  the  march 
to  the  station  almost  overcame  the  men.  So  we  bid  good-by 
to  New  Orleans,  glad  to  get  out  of  that  miserable  prison, 
where  we  leave  no  pleasant  associations. 

We  started  in  passenger  cars,  and  made  the  journey  over 
about  the  same  route  by  which  we  came  south  ;  but  will 
not  weary  the  reader  with  the  details  of  the  trip.  We 
reached  our  destination,  which  proved  to  be  Salisbury,  N.C., 
at  2  o'clock  A.  M.  of  February  I4th,  one  of  the  darkest  and 


226 


RECORD   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 


stormiest  nights  I  ever  saw.  We  were  ordered  out  of 
the  cars,  and,  marching  through  a  line  of  bayonets,  brought 
up  in  some  building,  and  were  left  in  the  dark  to  grope  our 
way  about  the  room.  We  soon  lay  down,  for  all  were 
wearied  by  our  long  ride  of  nine  days.  We  awoke  in  the 
morning  to  find  ourselves  in  another  strong  prison.  This 
did  not  look  much  like  going  home,  and  it  seems  to  be  the 
darkest  day  of  our  imprisonment,  for  we  can  now7  see  no 
siirns  of  our  release. 


CONFEDERATE  MILITARY  PRISON,  SALISBURY,  N.  C. 

(An  Old  Cotton  Factory.} 


Salisbury  Prison  is  a  large  cotton  factory,  three  stories 
high,  and  built  of  brick.  The  rooms  have  been  filled  with 
rough  board  bunks,  in  four  tiers,  with  narrow  aisles  between. 
The  windows  have  strong  iron  bars  across  them,  and  the 
sash  and  glass  have  been  removed,  so  that  the  cold  wind 
comes  sweeping  through,  day  and  night.  At  first,  our  food 
was  quite  good,  consisting  of  fresh  meat,  and  soup  made 
from  the  Southern  black  pea  or  bean.  But,  after  a  little, 


A    RARE   SIGHT.  22? 

the  rations  were  very  short,  and  instead  of  fresh  meat,  we 
were  fed  on  bacon  and  salt  junk.  This  was  meat  that  had 
been  cured  from  the  carcasses  of  horses  and  mules  which 
had  been  condemned  in  the  service.  We  would  never  have 
complained  had  we  been  given  even  enough  of  this. 

Our  prison  is  surrounded  by  a  grove  of  fine  trees.  The 
guard  line  is  in  the  shade  of  these  trees,  and  our  Richmond 
experience  of  being  fired  at  through  the  windows,  was  re 
peated  here.  I  have  seen  the  commanding  officer,  Lieut. 
Bradford,  son  of  the  Union  Governor  of  Maryland,  take  a 
musket  and  go  creeping  around  among  the  trees,  trying  to 
get  a  shot  at  some  unsuspecting  Yankee  who  might  venture 
too  near  the  window. 

One  night,  after  the  men  were  all  asleep,  the  guard  at 
the  door  of  the  third  floor,  without  any  warning,  opened 
the  door  and  fired  his  piece  into  the  room.  The  charge 
(three  buckshot  and  a  ball),  ^eriously  wounded  three  men. 

Our  drinking  water  is  all  supplied  from  a  single  well, 
near  the  door.  We  never  get  enough  to  wash  or  bathe  in. 

Our  time  is  passed  in  playing  games,  chess,  cards,  etc.,  or 
in  reading  our  old  letters,  and  telling  stories  that  we  have 
told  more  than  a  hundred  times  before,  but  always  find  at 
tentive  listeners.  We  have  a  dramatic  association,  which 
gives  very  creditable  entertainments.  Sometimes  the  offi 
cers  furnish  lights  and  come  in  to  witness  the  play.  A 
stage  was  erected  near  the  front  door,  and  curtains  were 
made  of  calico,  which  the  rebel  officers  brought  in.  At 
one  of  these  entertainments,  an  actor  was  costumed  as  a 
woman.  How  the  dress  was  smuggled  in,  none  of  us  ever 
knew.  The  make-up  of  the  actor  was  so  perfect  that  the 
officers  were  completely  deceived,  and  when  they  saw  the 
supposed  woman  come  on  the  stage,  they  stopped  the 
play,  drew  their  swords,  and  demanded  to  know  how  that 
woman  came  there.  This  was  soon  explained,  and  the  play 
was  allowed  to  go  on.  But  when  the  curtain  fell,  a  lot  of 
the  boys  rushed  on  to  the  stage  and  hugged  the  poor  fel 
low  most  to  death — so  rare  to  them  was  the  sight  of  a 

Q 

woman. 


228  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

March  5th. — We  learn  to-day  from  the  papers  that  no 
more  prisoners  are  to  be  exchanged  at  present,  so  we  shall 
have  to  stay  here  for  awhile  yet.  It  is  a  great  disappoint 
ment  to  us,  for  we  had  hoped  to  be  released  soon.  It  has 
been  represented  to  us  that  it  is  the  fault  of  our  govern 
ment  that  there  is  no  exchange,  but  we  do  not  believe  it  ; 
yet  we  cannot  see  why  we  are  not  released.  We  are  will 
ing  to  wait,  however,  if  any  good  can  come  from  it.  The 
long  confinement  is  beginning  to  tell  upon  the  men  ;  nearly 
all  have  a  bad  cough,  and  look  pale  and  weak.  We  are 
afraid,  if  we  remain  here  much  longer,  we  shall  contract 
diseases  from  which  we  can  never  recover. 

There  has  been  a  slight  change  in  our  food  for  a  few 
days  :  Bread,  and  coffee  made  from  burnt  meal,  for  break 
fast  ;  pork  and  bean  soup  for  dinner.  Some  of  the  men 
were  allowed  to  go  out  in  the  yard  to-day. 

March  loth. — Quite  a  number  of  the  men  have  made 
their  escape  lately ;  they  are  usually  gone  two  or  three 
days  before  the  officers  find  it  out.  Although  they  come 
in  and  have  roll-call  every  day,  we  manage  to  fool  them 
and  keep  our  full  number,  even  when  three  or  four  escape  at 
a  time.  It  is  done  by  transferring  men  from  one  floor  to 
another  through  trap  doors  which  we  have  cut  through  the 
floors  just  over  the  top  bunk  of  some  tier.  Through  these 
we  also  visit  our  comrades  on  the  other  floors,  and  the 
guards  are  none  the  wiser  for  it.  Almost  all  who  make 
their  escape  are  caught  and  brought  back,  sometimes  after 
being  out  a  month  or  more  ;  and  such  a  pitiable  sight  as 
they  present  when  they  return  !  Usually  their  clothes  are 
nearly  all  torn  off,  and  their  hands  and  faces  cut  and 
scratched  by  the  briars  and  thorns,  for  they  have  had  to 
travel  through  the  woods  and  swamps  and  avoid  the  houses 
of  white  people.  The  negroes  are  always  kind  to  escaped 
prisoners,  but  hunger  would  sometimes  drive  them  to  ask 
food  of  the  whites,  and  this  would  usually  lead  to  their 
capture  and  return. 

Besides  the  prisoners  of  war  in  Salisbury  there  are  many 
Union  men,  residents  of  West  Virginia,  Western  North 


UNION   SOUTHERN    MEN    IN    PRISON.  22Q 

Carolina  and  East  Tennessee,  who  have  been  arrested  on 
account  of  their  loyalty,  torn  from  their  families,  thrown 
into  prison,  and  are  treated  more  shabbily  than  the  soldier 
prisoners.  One  night  the  hospital  steward  sent  for  me  to 
come  to  the  hospital  and  watch  with  one  of  these  citizen 
prisoners.  I  found  him  in  an  attic  of  one  of  the  numerous 
little  brick  houses  which  surround  the  prison,  and  were 
formerly  the  homes  of  the  operatives  in  the  cotton  factory. 
I  watched  with  him  till  2  o'clock,  when  he  died.  He  had 
been  entirely  neglected,  and  was  in  a  horrible  condition. 

Perhaps  we  can  forgive  our  late  enemies  for  their  ill- 
treatment  of  our  prisoners,  regarding  it  as  one  of  the  results 
of  the  war,  but  the  blood  of  these  Union  men  will  eternally 
cry  to  heaven  for  vengeance. 

1  found  on  this  visit  to  the  hospital  that  no  provision 
had  been  made  for  washing  the  clothing  of  the  sick  men. 
So  I  went  to  the  commanding  officers  and  asked  permission 
to  set  up  a  laundry.  This  was  granted,  and  a  number  of 
men  were  detailed  to  assist  me.  This  work  kept  us  out  in 
the  open  air.  We  followed  it  for  nine  weeks.  Then  I 
went  into  the  hospital  as  nurse  again,  and  remained- until 
the  time  for  our  release  drew  on. 

We  will  not  weary  the  reader  with  further  details  of  life 
in  Salisbury  Prison,  only  to  say  that  as  the  spring  came  on 
the  men  chafed  more  ^nd  more  under  the  confinement,  and 
very  many  of  those  who  had  borne  up  so  manfully  in  New 
Orleans  became  discouraged,  lost  heart,  lay  down  and  died. 
By  this  time  there  were  many  thousand  prisoners  in  Salis 
bury.  We  found  some  whom  we  parted  with  in  Richmond, 
and  among  them  the  comrades  who  were  with  my  friend 
Trowbridge  when  he  died.  They  gave  me  his  diary  and 
the  trinkets  that  were  found  in  his  pockets.  These  I  brought 
home  and  gave  to  his  friends.  After  the  first  of  May  the 
guard-line  was  enlarged,  and  the  men  were  allowed  to  take 
exercise  in  the  yard,  where  various  outdoor  sports  were  in 
dulged  in,  and  the  health  of  the  men  rapidly  improved. 

May  23d,  1862. — The  glad  day  has  at  last  come!  Two 
hundred  of  us  are  to  start  for  home  to-day.  Before  we  left 


230  kECORfr  OF  2^f  it   fcfcGtMEfct   N.  V.  VoLs. 

we   were1   required   to  subscribe    to   the    following  oath    or 
parole  of  honor : 

"  We,  the  undersigned  prisoners  of  war  to  the  Confeder 
ate  States,  swear  that  if  released  we  will  not  take  up  arms 
during  the  existing  war  against  the  Confederate  States, 
until  we  be  regularly  exchanged,  and  that  we  will  not  com 
municate  in  any  manner  anything  that  may  injure  the 
cause  of  the  Confederate  States,  which  may  have  come  to 
our  knowledge,  or  which  we  may  have  heard  since  our  cap 
ture.  Signed  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  May  22,  1862." 

Notwithstanding  the  above  parole,  and  an  order  that 
every  man  should  be  searched,  I  determined  to  save  my 
diary  and  that  of  my  comrade  Trowbridge.  When  we  left 
New  Orleans,  I  obtained  a  double  canteen.  In  this  1  hid 
my  own  diary.  After  removing  one  spout,  I  ripped  up  the 
cloth  covering  on  one  side  ;  cut  through  the  tin  with  a  knife; 
placed  the  papers  inside ;  turned  down  the  tin,  and  sewed 
the  cloth  on  as  before.  The  canteen  looked  as  good  as 
new,  and  was  rilled  with  water  on  the  sound  side. 

There  was  not  room  in  the  canteen  for  the  other  diary  ; 
so  I  took  a  loaf  of  bread  that  I  obtained  at  the  hospital, 
and  cut  a  piece  out  of  one  end  ;  removed  all  the  soft  part, 
to  the  crust ;  rolled  up  the  book,  and  put  it  in  the  loaf. 
The  piece  was  then  wet  and  put  back,  and  the  loaf  placed 
in  my  haversack.  Twice  we  were  searched,  and  many  of 
the  men  lost  all  their  records,  but  mine  came  through  safely. 
We  left  Salisbury  by  rail,  and  went  to  Tarboro,  N.  C.,  on 
the  Tar  River,  where  we  were  put  on  board  an  open  scow, 
and  towed  down  the  river  by  a  little  stern  wheel  steamer, 
flying  the  Confederate  flag  and  a  flag  of  truce,  to  Little 
Washington,  N.  C.,  where  we  were  received  by  a  vessel 
from  the  blockade  squadron. 

The  ride  down  the  river  was  very  tedious,  but  the  men 
will  never  forget  how  good  the  "Old  Flag"  looked  when 
we  came  out  into  the  open  bay,  and  saw  the  colors  waving 
from  the  masthead  of  the  U.  S.  gunboat.  We  were  soon 
discovered,  and  a  boat,  flying  a  beautiful  new  flag,  and 
manned  by  officers  and  men  in  brilliant  uniforms,  put  out 


RETURN   TO    GODS   COUNTRY.  23! 

from  the  ship  to  hail  us.  We  had  arranged  to  give  three 
cheers  as  soon  as  they  should  board  our  steamer.  Hut 
when  the  word  was  given,  not  a  cheer  was  heard — the  men 
were  too  happy  to  cheer.  Such  ecstasy  comes  only  once  in 
the.  life  of  any  man. 

What  a  joyful  moment !  Yet  it  seemed  too  good  to  be 
true.  We  who  had  been  so  used  to  being  deceived,  were 
incredulous  to  the  last  moment.  Hut  we  were  soon  on 
board  a  transport,  and  sailed  away  for  New  York, — again 
under  the  dear  old  flag  !  How  our  tear-dimmed  eyes  gazed 
on  its  folds,  and  the  men,  with  solemn,  sobbing  voices,  said, 
**  Thank  God  !  thank  God  !"  The  link  that  bound  us  to 
the  terrible  past  is  broken. 

After  three  days  we  landed  on  Governor's  Island,  New 
York  Harbor,  and  after  a  few  days  were  allowed  to  return 
to  our  homes. 

Here  we  remained  till  July  I2th,  when  by  General  Order 
No.  54,  Adjutant-General's  office,  State  of  New  York,  all 
paroled  prisoners  were  ordered  to  report  to  the  Camp  of 
Instruction,  near  Annapolis,  Md. 

Here  we  remained  till  the  25th  of  September,  when  we 
were  notified  that  we  had  been  exchanged,  and  ordered  to 
report  to  our  regiments.  We  were  furnished  transportation 
to  Washington,  and  from  there  marched  in  search  of  our 
regiment,  which  \vas  in  camp  near  Bakersville,  Md.,  where 
we  arrived  October  4th,  1862,  having  been  absent  from  the 
command  one  year  and  nearly  three  months. 

Hard  as  our  lot  was,  we  now  realize  that  it  did  not  com 
pare  with  the  inhuman  treatment  our  prisoners  received 
later  on  in  the  war,  at  Belle  Isle,  Andersonville,  and  Salis 
bury.  The  policy  of  our  government  in  regard  to  an  ex 
change  of  prisoners  has  never  been  fully  explained  and  is 
not  now  generally  understood.  It  was  doubtless  thought 
to  be  a  wise  policy  at  the  time  ;  but  the  twenty-nine  thou 
sand  victims  who  went  down  to  death  from  those  vile,  south 
ern  prisons,  after  months  of  suffering  that  baffles  the  pen 
to  describe,  was  an  awful  sacrifice,  that  the  survivors  to  this 
day  cannot  believe  was  necessary.  And  it  seems  to  us  that 


232  RECORD   OF   2?TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

God's  everlasting  curse  must  surely  rest  upon  the  men  of 
the  South  who  thus  knowingly  allowed  the  thousands  of 
young  lives  to  be  blotted  out  of  existence  by  cruelties  un 
heard  of  before  in  the  annals  ot  civilized  warfare.  Those 
who  abetted  so  great  a  crime  against  civilization  and  hu 
manity,  against  Christianity  and  even  decency,  must  in  the 
future  stand  condemned  by  the  public  opinion  of  the 
world,  until  they  shall  have  done  "  works  meet  for  repent 
ance." 

About  eighteen  per  cent,  of  the  men  captured  died  in 
prison  ;  and  a  larger  per  cent,  of  prisoners  were  killed  and 
wounded  by  the  rebel  guards  than  would  have  been  killed 
had  the  men  remained  with  their  respective  regiments  and 
engaged  in  every  battle  that  was  fought  during  their  term 
of  imprisonment.  Our  own  government  has  never  yet 
fully  recognized  the  heroic  sacrifice  that  even  the  survivors 
made  in  support  of  one  of  the  most  vital  points  of  our  war 
policy  :  "  Refusing  an  even  exchange  of  prisoners,  lest,  by 
so  doing,  they  recognize  the  enemy  as  a  belligerent  power'' 
and  which  was  claimed  to  be  necessary  in  order  to  prevent 
foreign  nations  from  accepting  the  claims  of  the  Confeder 
ate  States  to  a  place  in  the  galaxy  of  nations. 

Still  another  view  of  the  matter  is  outlined  in  the  follow 
ing  letter  from  Gen.  Grant  to  Gen.  Butler,  in  1864: 

"It  is  hard  on  our  men  held  in  Southern  prisons  not  to  exchange  them, 
but  it  is  humanity  to  those  left  in  the  ranks  to  fight  our  battles.  Every 
man  released,  on  parole  or  otherwise,  becomes  an  active  soldier  against 
us  at  once,  either  directly  or  indirectly.  If  we  commence  a  system  of  ex 
change  which  liberates  all  prisoners  taken,  we  will  have  to  fight  on  until 
the  whole  South  is  exterminated.  If  we  hold  those  caught,  they  amount 
to  no  more  than  dead  men.  At  this  particular  time,  to  release  all  rebel 
prisoners  North  would  insure  Sherman's  defeat,  and  would  compromise 
our  safety  here." 

The  following  letter  from  Gen.  Butler  to  Commissioner 
Quid,  in  reply  to  the  proposition  to  resume  exchange,  is  of 
interest  as  bearing  on  the  same  point : 


WHO   WILL    DO    IT  ?  233 

"One  cannot  help  thinking,  even  at  the  risk  of  being  deemed  unchar 
itable,  that  the  benevolent  sympathies  of  the  Confederate  authorities  have 
been  lately  stirred  by  the  depleted  condition  of  their  armies,  and  a  desire 
to  get  into  the  field,  to  affect  the  present  campaign,  the  hale,  hearty,  and 
well-fed  prisoners  held  by  the  United  States,  in  exchange  for  the  half- 
starved,  sick,  emaciated  and  miserable  soldiers  of  the  United  States,  now 
languishing  in  your  prisons." 

The  above  outline  helps  to  explain  the  policy  of  our 
government,  and  is  recorded  with  the  hope  that  it  may 
reach  the  eyes  of  some  one  in  authority,  who  will  be  able 
to  stir  up  our  people  to  a  sense  of  their  obligation  to  this 
class  of  our  soldiers;  and  that  justice,  though  tardy,  may 
yet  be  done  to  the  men  who  patiently  endured  the  ten-fold 
hardships  of  a  soldier's  life. 

"The  National  wealth  that  lies  in  the  treasures  of  mines,  or  under  the 
white  wings  of  ships,  or  in  the  yellow  tassels  of  wheat  fields,  is  well  ;  but 
the  richest  land  is  one  rich  in  patriots'  graves." 

Their  memory  is  a  holy  legacy.  May  the  next  genera 
tion  grow  up  with  this  sentiment  wrought  into  every  fibre 
of  their  characters — that  there  is  no  nobler  fate  than  to  die 
for  one's  country.  And  if  another  time  of  trial  and  trouble 
and  woe  should  shadow  the  land,  may  they  be  ready  to  step 
forward  and  die,  if  need  be,  that  the  nation  may  live. 

"  For  gold  the  merchant  ploughs  the  main, 

The  farmer  ploughs  the  manor, 
But  glory  is  the  soldier's  prize, 
The  soldier's  wealth  is  honor. 

The  brave,  poor  soldier  ne'er  despise, 

Nor  count  him  as  a  stranger ; 
Remember,  he's  h'S  country's  stay, 

In  day  and  houi  of  danger." 


234  RECORD   OF   27'fH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

The  following  interesting  statement  from  I).  W.  Bosley, 
hospital  steward  of  the  27th,  will  remind  many  of  the 
every-day  scene  about  the  hospital  tent,  after  the  bugler 
had  sounded  surgeons'  call : 

"The  hospital  department  of  a  marching  regiment,  or 
rather  the  dispensary  part,  over  which  I  had  the  honor  to 
preside  in  the  27th  regiment,  is  probably  one  of  the  most 
"  onerous  "  in  the  service,  and  compels  the  hospital  stew 
ard  to  perform  almost  herculean  duties.  When  the 
tents  were  pitched  for  the  night  and  the  soldiers  retired  to 
rest,  his  hardest  task  would  just  commence.  The  unpack 
ing  of  medicine  chests,  filling  prescriptions,  extracting 
teeth,  compounding  medicines,  attending  sick,  etc.,  etc., 
would  give  him  but  little  time  to  rest. 

-X-  -X-  -X-  -X-  -X-  -X-  -X-  -X-  -If  -X- 

I  am  pleased  to  say  that  I  have  always  held  the  boys  of 
the  27th  in  the  highest  esteem  for  their  bravery  and  pluck, 
and  endurance  of  sickness  and  wounds.  Their  cheerfulness 
while  suffering  was  something  wonderful. 

The  kindness  of  the  soldiers  to  the  officers  of  the  med 
ical  department,  was  an  exhibition  of  their  gratitude  to  us, 
for  we  were  never  allowed  to  go  hungry,  nor  to  be  in  need 
of  help." 


RETURNED  PRISONERS. 

(From  a  lot  of  foj  received  at  a  Baltimore  Hospital,  in  May, 
fS6j  :  Showing  the  effects  of  ill  treatment  while  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.) 


GENERAL  HENRY   WARNER    SLOCUM 

Was  born  in  Delphi,  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  24th, 
1827.  His  ancestors,  for  three  generations,  resided  at  New 
port,  R.  I.,  where  his  father  was  born,  and  from  whence  he 
moved  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  about  the  year  1812  ;  and  thence 
to  Delphi,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  un 
til  his  death,  in  1853.  Gen.  Slocum  received  his  early  edu 
cation  at  the  Cazenovia  Seminary. 

He  entered  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy  at  West  Point, 
in  1848,  and  took  a  high  stand  in  his  class.  Upon  gradu 
ating,  in  1852,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  regular  army, 
as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  First  Artillery. 

He  served  two  years  in  the  interior  of  Florida,  and  three 
years  at  Fort  Moultrie,  S.  C.  While  at  the  latter  post,  he 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  B.  C.  Presley,  afterwards  Jus 
tice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  South  Carolina.  He  resigned 
his  commission  in  the  army  in  1857,  an<^  commenced  the 
practice  of  law,  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  In  1858  he  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  from  that  city.  Upon  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  he  re-entered  the  military  service,  and  was  made 
Colonel  of  the  27th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vols. 

His  regiment  suffered  severely  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  and  he  received  a  wound  which  confined  him  to  the 
hospital  nearly  two  months,  during  which  time  he  was  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General,  and,  as  soon  as  he 


238  RECORD   OF   2?TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

was  able  to  do  duty,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a 
brigade  under  Gen.  McClellan.  During  the  campaign  on 
the  Peninsula  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  Divis 
ion  in  the  Sixth  Corps,  under  Gen.  Franklin,  and  after  the 
seven  days'  battle  in  front  of  Richmond,  upon  the  recom 
mendations  of  Generals  McClellan  and  Franklin,  he  was 
made  Major-General. 

In  the  Maryland  campaign  under  Gen.  McClellan,  he 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  latter  battle  he  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  Twelfth  Army  Corps;  Gen.  Mansfield,  the 
former  commander,  having  been  killed  during  the  battle. 
He  was  at  Chancellorsville  under  Gen.  Hooker,  and  at  Get 
tysburg,  under  Meade.  During  the  great  struggle  at  Get 
tysburg,  he  commanded  the  right  of  Meade's  army,  and 
was  heavily  engaged  during  the  second  and  third  days  of 
the  battle.  The  defeat  of  Rosencranz,  at  Chickamauga, 
late  in  the  fall,  necessitated  sending  immediate  reinforce 
ments  to  him ;  and  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps, 
commanded  by  Howard  and  Slocum,  were  rapidly  trans 
ferred  thither  by  railroad. 

In  the  following  spring,  when  Sherman  reorganized  his 
army  for  the  Atlanta  campaign,  he  consolidated  the  Elev 
enth  and  Twelfth  Corps,  and  the  new  corps  (designated 
the  Twentieth)  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Hooker — Slocum  being  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  De 
partment  of  the  Mississippi,  with  headquarters  at  Vicksburg. 

He  was  ordered  to  make  frequent  excursions  into  the 
country  and  keep  the  enemy  actively  engaged,  with  a  view 
of  preventing  reinforcements  from  that  quarter  to  the  army 
in  front  of  Sherman.  When  Hooker  was  relieved  from  the 
Twentieth  Corps,  Slocum  was  ordered  by  telegraph  to  sur 
render  his  command  at  Vicksburg  to  the  officer  next  in 
rank,  and  join  Gen.  Sherman.  He  was  at  once  placed  in 
command  of  the  Twentieth  Corps. 

When  Sherman  made  his  bold  movement  around  Atlanta 
to  the  Macon  road,  he  left  Slocum  on  the  bank  of  the 
Chattahooche,^tojguard^the  communication  and  take  ad- 


<JF   GfcNERAt,   SLOCUM:  2$c) 

vdritage  df  any  oplpdrturiity  which  might  be  presented. 
Sherman  forced  the  enemy  ten  leave  the  entrerichrrtents 
around  Atlanta,  to  meet  him  in  the  field,  arid  the  Twen 
tieth  Corps  marched  into  the  city.  Within  an  hour  the 
telegraph  line  was  established,  and  the  first  message  Over  it 
was  a  dispatch  from  Gen.  Slocum,  carrying  the  glad  tidings 
to  the  North,  "Atlanta  has  fallen."  When  Sherman1 
planned  his  great  campaign  "  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,"  he 
gave  Slocum  command  of  the  left  wing  of  his  army,  com 
posed  of  the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps.  The  his 
tory  of  Sherman's  grand  campaign  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea, 
and  from  the  sea  through  the  swamps  of  the  Carolinas  to 
Raleigh,  the  capital  of  North  Carolina,  is  well  known  to  the 
world.  On  this  campaign,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Gen. 
Sherman,  President  Lincoln  constituted  the  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  Corps  an  army,  to  be  designated  as  the  "  Army 
of  Georgia,"  and  assigned  Gen.  Slocum  as  its  commander. 
He  continued  in  this  command  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  was  again  sent  to  command  the  Department  of 
the  Mississippi. 

In  the  fall  of  1865  he  resigned  his  commission,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1866  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  twice  been  elected  to 
Congress  from  a  district  in  that  city,  and  afterwards  a  rep 
resentative  at  large  for  the  state. 


240  RECORD    OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

BREVET    MAJOR-GEN.    JOSEPH   J.   BARTLETT. 

Joseph  J.  Bartlett  was  born  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
4th  of  November,  1834.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools  of  Binghamton,  and  he  afterwards  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Eaton  J.  Rich 
ardson,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1860,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  and  next  year  returned  to  Binghamton. 

In  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier,  in  Bing 
hamton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  had  just  commenced  the  practice 
of  law.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  company  he  was 
ejected  Captain.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  at  Elmira,  he  was  elected 
Major  of  the  Regiment. 

At  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  after  Colonel  Slocum  was 
wounded,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  regiment,  by 
the  Colonel's  order.  A  few  weeks  after  the  battle,  Colonel 
Slocum  was  promoted  to  Brigadier-General,  and  Major 
Bartlett  to  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-seventh.  Immediately 
upon  arriving  at  West  Point,  on  the  Peninsula,  the  provis 
ional  Sixth  Army  Corps  was  organized,  Gen.  Franklin  com 
manding.  This  gave  Gen.  Slocum  command  of  Franklin's 
Division,  and  Colonel  Bartlett  the  command  of  Slocum's 
Brigade.  A  reconnoissance  made  by  Col.  Bartlett  at 
Mechanicsville  was  so  successful  that  Gen.  McClellan  con 
tinued  him  in  command  of  his  brigade,  although  general 
officers  were  sent  from  Washington  to  report  to  General 
McClellan  for  assignment  to  duty. 

At  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill,  Col.  Bartlett's  Brigade  re 
ported  to  Gen.  Sykes  for  duty,  and,  with  the  regular 
troops,  held  the  right  of  Gen.  Porter's  line  successfully  until 
the  close  of  the  battle,  losing  504  men  killed  and  wounded, 
including  all  but  three  of  the  field  officers. 

For  this  battle  he  received  the  warm  praise  of  Gens. 
Franklin,  Slocum,  Sykes,  Porter  and  McClellan,  in  their  re 
ports.  He  also  received  the  same  for  services  rendered 
during  all  the  seven  days'  fighting. 

At  the  second  battle  of    Bull   Run,   he  covered  the  re- 


BIOGRAPHY   OF   GENERAL   BARTLETT.  24! 

treat  of  the  army  to  Centreville.  At  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain  his  brigade  led  the  column  of  attack  of  the  First 
Division,  Sixth  Corps,  at  "  Crampton's  Gap,"  breaking  the 
enemy's  line  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  driving  him  be 
yond  the  crest,  and  securing  the  road  for  the  passage  of 
our  troops. 

At  Antietam  he  engaged  with  the  balance  of  the  Corps, 
For  his  services  up  to  this  date,  he  was  recommended  by 
Gen.  McClellan  for  promotion  to  Brigadier-General,  which 
title  he  received  about  ten  days  after. 

From  this  period  to  the  close  of  the  war  he  also  engaged 
in  every  battle  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  At  the  bat 
tle  of  Marye's  Heights,  Second  Fredericksburg,  and  Chan- 
cellorsville,  hewas  with  Sedgwick's  Sixth  Army  Corps. 

At  Gettysburg  he  was  given  by  General  Sedgwick  the 
command  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps, 
retaining  its  command  until  the  "  Mine  Run  "  campaign, 
when  Gen.  Sykes  applied  for  him  to  command  the  First  Di 
vision  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  which  he  retained  until  Gen. 
Grant  took  command  and  consolidated  the  six  corps  of  the 
army  into  three.  This  legislated  him  out  of  a  command, 
but  the  Corps  Commander  made  up  for  him  the  equivalent 
of  a  division,  by  giving  him  nine  regiments  of  veteran 
troops.  With  this  command  he  served  through  the  Wil 
derness  campaign  and  in  front  of  Petersburg.  For  dis 
tinguished  services  in  that  campaign  he  was  made  Brevet 
Major-General.  At  the  battle  of  "  Five  Forks "  he  was 
once  more  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  First  Division 
of  the  'Fifth  Corps,  which  marched  from  there  to  Appo- 
mattox  Court  House  with  the  cavalry.  Being  in  advance 
of  the  corps  the  morning  Sheridan  struck  Appomattox,  he 
formed  his  division  in  two  lines  of  battle  with  a  cloud  of 
skirmishers  in  front,  and  forced  the  enemy  to  retire  behind, 
the  town,  and  received  the  surrender  of  a  rebel  brigade  be 
fore  the  general  surrender  took  place. 

The  next  day  he  was  appointed  to  receive  the  surrender 
of  the  infantry  arms  of  Gen.  Lee's  army.  Gen.  Bartlett 
was  struck  six  times,  but  never  for  a  day  gave  up  the  com- 


242  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

mand  of  his  troops.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Johnson  "  Minister  Resident  "  to 
Stockholm,  where  he  remained  three  years. 

This  record  shows  continuous  service  in  the  field  from  the 
first  Bull  Run  until  after  the  surrender  at  Appomattox 
Court  House. 

He  is  now  Deputy  Commissioner  of  Pensions,  having 
been  appointed  to  that  position  by  President  Cleveland. 


COLONEL  ALEXANDER    DUNCAN   ADAMS, 

The  fourth  son  of  Gen.  William  H.  Adams,  was  born  at 
Lyons,  N.  Y.,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1832.  He  en 
tered  Hobart  College,  at  Geneva,  in  1852.  After  leaving 
college,  he  was  engaged  as  Civil  Engineer  on  the  Erie 
Canal  enlargement,  for  a  few  years,  when  he  accepted  an 
appointment  as  teacher  in  the  Lyon's  Union  School.  He 
responded  to  the  first  call  for  volunteers,  and  raised  the 
first  company  in  Wayne  county.  He  was  promoted  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  after  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  to 
Colonel  after  the  battle  of  Antietam.  At  the  close  of  his 
term  of  service  he  returned  to  Lyons,  and  became  Principal 
of  the  Union  School,  which  position  he  held  for  five  years. 
Declining  health  prevented  active  employment  after  this. 
He  died  of  consumption  on  the  28th  of  October,  1872, 
leaving  a  widow  and  one  daughter. 


BIOGRAPHY   OF   MAJOR   GARDINER.  243 

MAJOR    CURTISS    C.   GARDINER 

Was  born  Dec.  1st,  1822,  in  Eaton,  Madison  County.  N.  Y. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  removed,  with  his  father's  family, 
to  Angelica,  N.  Y.  On  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  he  was 
practicing  law,  but  immediately  relinquished  his  profession, 
and  recruited  a  company  of  volunteers  at  Angelica,  of  which 
he  was  commissioned  Captain  ;  and  the  company  was  ac 
cepted  into  the  State  service  May  I3th,  1861  ;  and  on  May 
i6th  the  company  departed  from  Angelica,  and  reported  at 
the  State  Military  Depot  at  Elmira ;  and  on  May  2ist  the 
company  was  assigned  to  a  regiment,  and  designated  as 
Company  "  I,"  in  the  2/th  Regiment  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 
On  the  ist  of  September,  1861,  Captain  Gardiner  was  pro 
moted,  to  fill  a  vacancy,  to  Major  of  the  same  regiment. 
The  records  of  the  regiment  show  his  military  services, 
complete. 

In  the  battle  of  Gaines'  Mill,  Major  Gardiner  was  injured 
by  a  shell,  but  remained  with  the  army  until  its  retreat  to 
Harrison's  Landing,  where,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1862,  he  was 
ordered  sent  north  on  Surg.  Barnes'  certificate  of  disability. 
On  his' arrival  at  Washington,  he  was  granted  leave  of  ab 
sence  for  thirty  days,  on  Surgeon's  certificate  of  disability, 
"on  account  of  wounds,"  by  S.  O.  No.  155,  War  Depart 
ment,  and  G.  O.,  Washington,  July  7th,  1862,  and  returned 
to  his  home  in  Angelica  ;  and  in  consequence  of  a  continu 
ance  of  his  disability,  he  forwarded  his  resignation  from  the 
service,  to  the  War  Department,  which  was  accepted  by  the 
Adjutant-General  of  the  Army,  July  24th,  1862. 

Major  Gardiner  was  subsequently  brevetted  Colonel  of 
U.  S.  Volunteers,  for  "gallant  and  meritorious  services  dur 
ing  the  war."  In  1864  he  was  assigned  to  the  U.  S.  Muster 
ing  and  Disbursing  Office  at  Elmira.  In  1867  he  was  ap 
pointed  U.  S.  Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue  of  the  27th 
District  of  New  York,  at  Elmira.  In  1868,  he  was  the 
Conservative  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  27th  District  of 
New  York.  In  1873  he  removed  to  the  City  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  which  is  his  present  home. 


MKIVIORIAIVL 


DR.  NORMAN  S.  BARNES. 

"The  harp  that  once  through  Tara's  halls, 

Its  soul  of  music  shed  ; 
Now  hangs  as  mute  on  Tara's  walls 
As  if  that  soul  were  dead." 

When  the  last  toll  of  the  funeral  bell  dies  away  upon  the 
solemn  air  of  death,  and  what  was  mortal  is  laid  to  rest,  we 
instinctively  turn  to  preserve  in  some  form  the  biography 
of  the  departed. 

"  His  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him  that  Nature  might  stand  up, 
And  say  to  all  the  world,   'This  was  a  man.'" 


BIOGRAPHY    OF   DR.  BARNES.  245 

DR.  NORMAN    S.   BARNES. 

On  Saturday  morning,  April  i8th,  1885,  Dr.  Norman  S. 
Barnes,  after  a  severe  and  protracted  illness,  in  which  the 
highest  patience  and  courage  were  shown,  died  at  his  resi 
dence,  365  Warren  avenue,  Chicago,  111.  His  life  for  ten 
years  preceding  death,  was  filled  with  physical  pain,  having 
suffered  at  the  beginning  of  these  years  an  attack  of  par 
alysis  of  the  optic  nerves,  terminating  in  the  loss  of  sight, 
the  result  of  a  sunstroke  received  while  engaged  in  the  ser 
vice  of  his  country  ;  and  though  doomed  to  silent  medita 
tion  over  this  most  unhappy  affliction,  his  genial  disposition 
shed  sunshine  upon  an  otherwise  rayless  sky.  Born  to  lead 
and  command,  he  was,  however,  of  a  gentle  and  loving 
mold,  whose  sympathies  were  enlisted  with  every  good 
cause,  and  whose  charities  to  the  needy,  financially  and 
professionally,  were  without  stint.  He  possessed  in  full 
those  traits  of  character  which  endeared  him  especially  to 
the  young,  for  whom  in  all  worthy  pursuits  and  aspirations 
he  had  words  of  cheer  and  encouragement.  Scores  of 
friends  will  not  soon  forget  how  pleasantly  his  conversation, 
sparkling  with  humor  and  brilliancy,  would  entertain  them 
for  hours  ;  nor  should  they  forget  how  tenderly  his  ear 
would  be  given  to  their  tales  of  sorrow  or  disappointment. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Lawrence,  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church 
of  Chicago,  assisted  by  representatives  of  the  Grand  Army, 
Post  28,  conducted  the  last  sad  rites  over  the  remains  of 
the  deceased,  which  were  quietly  and  simply  placed  in  the 
cemetery  of  Rose  Hill. 

Dr.  Barnes  was  born  at  Avon,  N.  Y.,  in  1830,  and  four 
years  subsequently  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  their  new 
home  in  Lapeer  county,  Mich.,  where  the  lavish  mental  and 
physical  gifts  that  nature  had  bestowed  upon  him  were  nur 
tured  to  great  strength  through  the  quiet,  simple  and  thought 
ful  life  he  led  until  his  seventeenth  year,  when  his  ambitious 
spirit  naturally  sought  a  wider  field  for  cultivation  and  ac 
quaintance  with  the  world,  which  was  gratified  by  taking 
his  departure  for  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  the  hope  of  fulfilling 


246  RECORD   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

a  long  cherished  desire  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  medicine 
Without  influence  and  with  but  a  limited  supply  of  money 
he,  however,  soon  found  favor  with  Dr.  Treat,  of  Rochester 
into  whose  office  he  entered  ;  but,  after  the  lapse  of  a  few 
months,  the  dread  disease,  cholera,  appeared  in  that  city, 
and  when  Levi  Ward,  then  Mayor  of  Rochester,  issued  a 
public  appeal  for  nurses,  this  young  man  quickly  responded, 
and  throughout  that  anxious  period,  won,  for  valiant  and 
heroic  conduct,  the  best  opinions  in  particular  of  the  medi 
cal  fraternity,  and  their  brightest  predictions  of  his  future 
usefulness.  Following  the  cessation  of  this  epidemic,  he 
decided  to  enter  Amherst  College,  Mass.,  that  the  founda 
tion  for  his  medical  course  might  be  made  as  broad  as  pos 
sible ;  but  after  passing  two  courses  at  Amherst,  he  became 
restless  to  begin  the  studies  that  would  fit  him  for  the  pro 
fession  of  which  he  so  earnestly  wished  to  become  a  member, 
and  consequently,  at  the  very  earliest  session  of  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College,  at  Berkshire,  Mass.,  then  one  of  the  best 
medical  schools  in  the  United  States,  he  was  duly  installed 
as  a  student.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  graduated  from 
this  institution  with  high  honors  ;  and  on  the  departure,  in 
the  same  year,  of  its  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy,  Dr.  Tim 
othy  Childs,  for  an  extended  trip  in  Europe,  Dr.  Barnes  was 
selected  to  fill  his  post, — a  position  in  which  he  continued 
for  eight  years,  and  was  the  tutor  of  many  who  are  now  em 
inent  in  their  profession.  At  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war, 
though  intending  at  that  time  to  make  a  visit  to  Europe, 
the  fervor  of  his  patriotism  led  him  to  sacrifice  a  valuable 
practice  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  to  enter  the  2/th  N.Y.  Volun 
teers  as  surgeon,  which  position  he  held  until  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out,  in  1863  ;  but  not  content  with  this  ser 
vice,  he  applied  for  the  position  of  surgeon  in  the  regular 
army,  and  as  there  was  no  vacancy  in  that  grade,  after  pass 
ing  the  required  examination  at  Washington,  he  willingly 
accepted  the  rank  of  Assistant  Surgeon,  from  which,  after 
a  service  of  three  months,  he  was  promoted  as  Surgeon, 
and  in  a  brief  time  was  made  Medical  Director  successively 
of  the  Sixth,  Tenth,  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Vol- 


BIOGRAPHY   OF   DR.  BARNES.  247 

unteer  Army  Corps,  and  later  Medical  Chief  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  with  headquarters  at 
Norfolk,  Va.,  positions  which  he  filled  with  distinction. 
He  retired  from  the  army  with  an  enviable  record,  in  1868 
For  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
Fisher,  President  Lincoln  bestowed  upon  Dr.  Barnes  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel.  At  the  close  of  his  army  ser 
vice  he  returned  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  but  remained  only  a 
few  months,  going  thence  to  Chicago,  111.,  and  when  on  the 
high  road  to  success,  with  the  certainty  of  achieving  a  dis 
tinguished  professional  standing  in  the  region  of  his  new 
home,  the  loss  of  sight  overtook  him,  and  doomed  him  in 
the  flower  of  manhood,  to  inactivity  and  mournful  reflection. 
Much  may  be  attributed  to  the  domestic  association  of  Dr. 
Barnes,  in  its  bearing  upon  his  early  manhood,  and  the 
source  of  consolation  it  was  in  his  years  of  suffering  and  de 
cline.  He  was  united  in  1856  to  Miss  Kitty  Burbank  Wil 
liams,  of  Deerfield,  Mass.,  a  lady  of  the  highest  cultivation 
and  literary  ability,  whose  death  occurred  in  1873.  He  was 
again  united  in  matrimony,  to  Miss  M.  Augusta  McPherson, 
of  Chicago,  in  1874,  upon  whom,  through  the  long  and  try 
ing  sickness  that  followed,  devolved  the  exacting  duty  of 
tenderly  nursing  and  consoling  her  afflicted  husband. 


248  RECORD    OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

A   Soldier's   Dream. 


BY    DR.   N.   S.   BARNES. 


I  sometimes  dream  I'm  once  more  on  the  battle-field, 

There,  where  wounds  are  given,  and  where  wrongs  are  healed 

Once  more  I  hear  the  steady  tramp  of  marching  men, 

The  rushing  fight,  the  cannon  roar,  through  bush  and  glen. 

Once  again  I  hear  the  cannon's  thundering  sound  : 

I  see  its  belch  of  fire,  and  feel  it  jar  the  ground  ; 

See  once  more,  the  cavalry  charge  through  flame  and  smoke, 

With  carbine  fire,  bayonet  thrust,  and  saber  stroke. 

High  above  clouds,  on  Lookout's  crest,  the  old  flag  waves, 
Carried  by  Union  hands,  held  there  by  Union  braves  ; 
And  all  along  that  crimson  battle  front  I  hear, 
Ringing  in  the  air,  the  glorious  Union  cheer. 

And  so  unlike  that  horrid,  shameful  Rebel  yell, 
More  like  the  shrieking  cry  from  the  demons  of  hell. 
I  see  the  surging  columns  advance,  break  and  reel, 
Rallying  again,  they  meet  the  foemen,  steel  to  steel. 

Thus  rages  the  combat,  till,  with  the  curtain  of  night, 
Comes  glorious  victory  for  the  Union  and  right  ; 
Again,  high  in  the  heavens,  Independence  sun 
Looks  down  on  a  battle  fought,  and  Gettysburg  won. 

With  the  sword's  slash,  cannon's  shot,  and  with  rifle  lead, 
The  ground  is  strewn  with  the  wounded  and  with  the  dead  ; 
I  sometimes  have  wished,,  irreverent  though  it  seem, 
That  there  among  my  comrades,  still  that  wish  I  mean — 

That  with  victory  won,  at  the  close  of  a  hard -fought  day, 
When  all  is  hushed — battle  shout  and  bloody  fray  ; 
I  might  have  lain  me  down  there  upon  a  soldier's  bed, 
A  soldier's  eternal  rest,  and  a  soldier  dead. 

No,  not  dead,  but  only  changed  to  other  life, 
Where  warring  ceases,  and  there  is  an  end  of  strife  ; 
Where  we  no  longer  hear  the  sentinel's  weary  tramp, 
A  rainbow — silver  and  gold,  horizons  the  camp. 

Comrades,  somewhere  and  somehow,  in  that  other  sphere, 
We  will  better,  then,  know  why  we  have  battled  here  ; 
And  if  there  be  rank  in  the  Lord's  eternal  plan, 
'Tis  moral  worth,  and  not  wealth,  that  will  rank  the  man. 


BIOGRAPHY   OF   GENERAL   SEDGWICK.  249 

GEN.  JOHN    SEDGWICK 

Was  born  in  Cornwall,  Ct.,  September  13,  1813,  and  gradu 
ated  at  West  Point,  July,  1837.  In  this  year,  as  a  junior 
Second  Lieutenant  of  Artillery,  he  made  a  campaign 
against  the  Seminoles  in  Florida.  Subsequently  he  served 
upon  the  Northern  frontier,  in  the  Canada  border  troubles. 
Young  Sedgwick  accompanied  Scott's  expedition  to  Vera 
Cruz,  and  participated  in  the  battles  that  followed  the  sur 
render  of  that  post,  winning  for  gallantry  displayed  at 
Cerro  Gordo,  Cherebusco,  Molino  del  Rey  and  Chepultepec 
the  brevets  of  Captain  and  Major.  He  was  present  during 
the  assault  upon  the  Mexican  capital,  and  at  its  capture. 
He  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Cavalry  in  the  Second 
United  States  ;  afterwards,  in  the  same  year,  was  commis 
sioned  Colonel  of  the  First  United  States  Cavalry.  This 
was  in  August,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  that  month  he  was 
made  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  of  1861,  Gen.  Sedgwick  com 
manded  a  brigade  of  Heintzleman's  Division.  In  the  Pe 
ninsula  campaign,  he  was  at  the  head  of  a  division  of  Sum- 
ner's  Corps,  which  participated  in  the  seige  of  Yorktown, 
and  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  where  their  arrival  after  a  toil 
some  march  largely  contributed  to  the  favorable  ending  of 
that  engagement.  His  command  distinguished  itself  at 
Savage's  station,  June  29th,  and  at  Frazer's  Farm,  June 
3<Dth.  where  its  General  was  wounded,  as  he  was  also  three 
times,  severely,  at  Antietam.  The  wounds  received  at  this 
place  deprived  the  nation  of  his  services  until  the  following 
December. 

The  changes  of  corps  commanders  which  resulted  from 
the  change  in  the  Chief  Command  of  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac,  after  the  winter  of  1862,  found  Gen.  Sedgwick  at 
the  head  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  as  the  Commander  of  which 
he  is  known  to  fame. 

In  May,  1863,  he  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Hooker  to  carry 
the  heights  of  Fredericksburg,  and  form  a  junction  with  the 
main  army  at  Chancellorsville.  The  town  was  occupied  on 


250  RECORD   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Sunday  morning,  May,  3d,  with  but  little  opposition,  but 
i  he  storming  of  the  heights  behind  it  cost  the  lives  of  sev 
eral  thousand  men.  The  advance  of  the  Sixth  Corps  was 
checked  at  Salem  Heights,  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
by  a  superior  force  detached  by  Gen.  Lee  from  the  main 
army  confronting  Hooker.  The  force  opposing  Gen. 
Sodgwick  was  further  strengthened  the  next  morning,  May 
4th,  and  it  was  only  by  great  skill  and  hard  fighting  that 
the  General  was  able  to  hold  his  ground  during  the  day, 
and  to  withdraw  at  night  across  the  Rappahannock. 

*  -x-  •&          -x-  *•***# 

On  the  morning  of  June  3Oth,  1863,  the  Sixth  Corps,  the 
right  of  the  army  following  Gen.  Lee,  was  at  Manchester, 
northwest  of  Baltimore,  thirty-five  miles  from  Gettysburg. 
The  events  of  the  hour  demanding  the  concentration  of 
the  army  at  the  last  place,  the  Sixth  Corps  made  the  march 
thither  in  twenty  hours,  arriving  before  2  P.  M.,  July  2d. 
The  corps  participated  thenceforth  in  the  action  of  the  2cl 
and  3d  of  July. 

*•#####  X  TV  -X- 

Gen.  Sedgwick  commanded  the  right  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  at  Rappahannock  Station,  November  7th,  also  at 
Mine  Run,  November  26th  to  December  7th,  1863. 
«*******# 

Gen.  Sedgwick  was  conspicuous  in  the  battles  of  the 
Wilderness,  and  those  at  Spottsylvania.  On  the  loth  of 
May,  1864,  he  was  killed  by  the  bullet  of  a  sharpshooter. 
He  was  universally  beloved.  In  the  Sixth  Corps  he  was 
known  as  "  Uncle  John,"  and  his  death  cast  a  gloom  over 
the  command,  which  was  never  dispelled.  A  monument, 
wrought  of  cannon  captured  by  the  Sixth  Corps,  was 
erected  to  his  memory  at  West  Point. 


BIOGRAPHY   OF   GENERAL  FRANKLIN.  251 

GEN.   WILLIAM    BUELL    FRANKLIN 

Was  born  in  York,  Pa.,  February  2;th,  1823.  Graduating  at 
West  Point,  in  June,  1843,  he  was  assigned  to  the  corps  of 
topographical  engineers.  In  the  "  Chihuahua  Column,"  in 
the  early  part  of  Gen.  Taylor's  campaign  in  Northern  Mex 
ico,  he  served  upon  the  staff  of  Gen.  Wool.  He  was  on  the 
staff  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Buena  Vista,  and  for 
"gallant  and  meritorious  services"  in  that  battle,  was  bre- 
vetted  First  Lieutenant. 

For  several  years  prior  to  1852,  he  was  instructor  in  nat 
ural  and  experimental  philosophy,  at  West  Point  Military 
Academy.  He  subsequently  filled  the  same  chair  in  the 
College  of  New  York.  He  was  engineer  in  charge  of  the 
capitol  in  Washington,  from  November,  1859,  to  March, 

1861.  Naturally,  the  services  of  a  loyal,  trained  soldier,  so 
accomplished  as  was  the  subject   of    this   sketch,  were   in 
eager  demand  in  the  spring  of   1861.      May  I4th  he  was  ap 
pointed  Colonel  of  the  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry,  and 
three  days  later  was  commissioned   Brigadier-General  U.  S. 
Volunteers.       Gen.    Franklin     commanded     a    brigade     in 
Heintzleman's  Division  at  Bull  Run.     During  the  period  of 
organization   of  the  Army  of    the   Potomac,  and   until  its 
movement  in  the  spring  of    1862,  he  commanded  a  division 
which  was  first  assigned  to  McDowell's  Corps.     The  divis 
ion  was    detached  in  the  spring  of   1862,  and    joined  Mc- 
Clellan   before   Yorktown.     Gen.   Franklin    commanded  at 
West   Point,  near  the   mouth  of  the   Pamunkey,  May  6th, 

1862,  and   during   this  month   organized  the    Sixth  Army 
Corps,  which  he  commanded  till  the  following  November. 
During  this   period  he  commanded  in   the  affairs  at  Gold- 
ing's  Farm  and  White  Oak  Swamp,  June  2/thto  3Oth  ;  com 
manded   the  left  at  South   Mountain,  September  I4th,  his 
troops  capturing  Crampton's  Gap  ;  relieved  Sumner's  com 
mand  in   the  afternoon  of  September   i/th,   at   Antietam. 
In  November  he  assumed  command  of  the  left  grand  divis 
ion  (First  and  Sixth  Corps),  and  in  the  battle  of  the  I3th  of 
December,  commanded  the  left  wing  of   the  Army  of  the 


252  RECORD   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

Potomac.  In  the  following  September  he  commanded  the 
expedition  against  Sabine  Pass,  La.  In  1863-64  he  com 
manded  the  troops  occupying  Northern  Louisiana.  He 
was  with  Gen.  Banks  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads.  In  this  battle 
Gen.  Franklin  was  wounded,  and  had  two  horses  shot  under 
him.  It  was  he  who  conducted  the  retreat  to  Alexandria, 
and  directed  Col.  Bailey  to  make  arrangements  for  the  relief 
of  Porter's  fleet,  by  the  Red  River  dam.  Through  the 
summer  of  1864,  on  account  of  his  wound,  he  was  absent 
on  sick-leave.  During  this  period,  Gen.  Grant  urged  the 
appointment  of  Gen.  Franklin  to  the  command  of  the  Mid 
dle  Military  Division.  He  retired  from  the  service  in  1865. 


ROSTKR 


— OF — 


THE  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y,  VOLUNTEERS. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Muster-out  Rolls  of  each 
company.  The  numbers  following  the  name  denote  the 
age  of  the  soldier  when  he  enlisted.  Where  no  date  or 
remarks  occur  after  the  soldier's  name,  it  is  to  be  under 
stood  that  he  was  mustered  into  the  service  with  the  regi 
ment,  May  2 ist,  1 86 1,  and  discharged  May  3 1st,  1863.  The 
names  of  all  recruits  are  followed  by  the  date  of  muster. 

The  fact  is  not  noted  that  the  soldier  may  have  been  ab 
sent  from  his  company  more  or  less  of  the  time  on  account 
of  sickness  or  wounds,  and  afterwards  returned  to  duty. 

The  original  Muster-in  Rolls  of  the  regiment,  on  legal-cap 
paper,  are  still  in  the  possession  of  Major  Gardiner,  and 
show  the  check-marks  in  pencil  made  by  the  mustering  offi 
cer  at  the  time.  These  show  that  Co.  "  I  "  was  the -only 
company  with  every  officer  and  man  present  to  answer  to 
his  name. 

Co.  "A,"  numbering    78    officers  and  men,*  had  11  absent. 

.  .          .  .     |  >     '  '  U  i-,  t-t  (i  it  U  U  i  U 

1  J>  /  / 

"    "C,"          "  81         "          "        "         <4       2 

"    "D,"  ST  "       6 

44    "E,"  77  "       8 

u      "  "FT  M  "  Qr  <«•  «  «  «  -5          « 

J  J  S 

"    "G,"         "  81         "          "       "        "       i  .    " 

"    "H,"  83  "       "         "     19 

U         «    T      "  U  ~*j  U  U  «  U  Q  U 

"    "K,"  77  «      6      " 

*  Nine  borrowed  men  were  included  in  Co.  "A." 

The  total  number  on  the  first  Muster  Roll,  including 
field  and  staff,  was  809. 


254  ROSTER   OF  2?TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF  OFFICERS. 

COLONELS. 

1.  Henry  W.  Slocum,    promoted  to   Brigadier-General,    Sept.  i,  1861  ; 
to  Major-General,  July  4,  1862. 

2.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett,  promoted  from  Major  to  Colonel,  Sept.  i    1861  ; 
to  Brigadier-General,  October  4,  1862. 

3.  Alexander    D.    Adams,   promoted    from    Captain   of    Co.    "B"    to 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Sept.  i,  1861  ;  to  Colonel,  October  4,  1862. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONELS. 

1.  Joseph  J.  Chambers,  resigned  August  9,  1861. 

2.  Alexander  D.  Adams,  promoted  to  Colonel. 

3.  Joseph  H.   Bodine,   promoted  from    First  Lieutenant    to    Captain 
of  Co.    "  H,"   February  6,  1862  ;    to  Major,  July  24,  1862  ;    to  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  October  4,  1862. 

MAJORS. 

1.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett,  promoted  to  Colonel. 

2.  Curtiss  C.  Gardiner,  promoted  from  Captain  of  Co.  "  I,"  September 
i,  1861.      Resigned,  July  24,  1862,  on  account  of  disability  resulting  from 
wounds  received  in  the  battle  at  Gaines'  Mill. 

3.  Joseph  H.  Bodine,  promoted   to  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

4.  George  G.  Wan/er,   promoted  from  Captain  of  Co.  "E"  to  Major, 
October  4,  1862. 

ADJUTANTS. 

1.  John  P.  Jenkins,  resigned,  November,  1861. 

2.  Melville  W.  Goodrich,  promoted  from  First  Sergeant  of  Co.  "B" 
to  Adjutant,  December  i,  1861.     Dismissed,  August  30,  1862. 

3.  Charles  E.  Thompson,  promoted  from  Private  of  Co.  "  D  "  to  Ser 
geant-Major,  November  i,  1861  ;  to  Adjutant,  August  30,  1862. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

1.  James   A.  Hamilton,  resigned,  October  7,  1862.     Captured    by  the 
rebel  General  Stewart,  while  on  his  way  home. 

2.  James  P.  Kirby,  promoted  to  Corporal,  November  i,  1861  ;  to  Ser 
geant,  February  8,  1862  ;  to  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster,  from  Co.  "D," 
October  7,  1862.     Discharged  by  General  Orders,  No.  2,  Nov.  22,  1862. 

3.  Texas  Angel,  promoted  from  Private  to  Commissary-Sergeant,  from 
Co.  "I,"  July  i,  1861  ;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  February  6,  1862;  to  First 
Lieutenant,  September  26,  1862  ;  to  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster,  No 
vember  22,  1862. 

SURGEONS. 

i.     Norman  S.  Barnes,  Surgeon  from  enrollment. 

SURGEON'S  MATE. 
i.     Barnett  W.  Morse,  resigned,  July  19,  1862. 

ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

i.     William  H.  Stuart,  Assistant-Surgeon  from  enrollment,  Aug.  15,  1862. 

CHAPLAINS. 

1.  D.  D.  Buck,  mustered  July  i,  1861.     Resigned,  Feb.  26,  1862. 

2.  John  G.  Webster,  mustered  Oct.  i,  1862.     Resigned  March  18,  1863. 


ROSTER   OF   27TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  255 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

SERGEANT-MAJORS. 

1.  Charles  L.  Gaul,   promoted  from  Sergeant-Major  to  Second  Lieu 
tenant  of  Co.  "  B,"  September  i,  1861.     Died  of  disease,  August  20,  1862. 

2.  William   H.  H.  Brainard,   promoted  from   Private  of  Co.    "  D,"  to 
Sergeant-Major,    September  i,  1861  ;    reduced  to  the  ranks,  Oct.  31,  1861. 

3.  Clarke  E.  Ellis,    promoted   from   Private  of  Co.    "B,"  to  Sergeant- 
Major,  August  30,  1862. 

4.  Charles  E.  Thompson,  promoted  to  Adjutant. 

QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANTS. 

1.  Lewis  C.   Bartlett,    discharged    for  disability,    August,    1861.      Re- 
enlisted  in  Co.  "A." 

2.  Benjamin  S.  Coffin,  promoted  to  Corporal  of  Co.  "  G,"  November 
i,  1861  ;  to  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  March  i,  1862. 

COMMISSARY    SERGEANTS. 

1.  Texas  Angel,   mustered  July  i,    1861  ;    promoted  from   Private  of 
Co.  "  I,"  to  Sergeant,  September  i,  1861,  to  Commissary  Sergeant,  March 
i,  1862. 

2.  Daniel  P.  Newell,  mustered  Aug.  2,  1861;    promoted  from  Co.  "K." 

HOSPITAL    STEWARDS. 

1.  W.    Fitch   Cheeney,  promoted   from   Private  of  Co.    "  E,"  to   Hos 
pital   Steward,  June  i,  1861.     Discharged  for  disability,  March  i,  1862. 

2.  Daniel  W.  Bosley,  promoted  from   Private  of  Co.  "  E,"  to   Hospital 
Steward,  March   i,  1862. 

DRUM    MAJOR. 

i.     George  H.  Cook,  mustered  out  of  service,  October  18,  1862. 

PRINCIPAL    MUSICIAN. 

i.     Fred  Bender,  promoted  from  Corporal  of  Co.  "  E,"  June  30,  1861. 
Mustered  out  of  service,  October  18,  1862. 


COMPANY  "A." 

CAPTAINS. 

T.     William  M.  Blakely,  25,  First  Lieutenant  to  June  r,  1861,  then  Cap 
tain  to  February  8,  1862,  when  he  resigned. 

2.     Edwin    D.    Comstock,    21,    transferred    and    promoted    from   Firs 
Lieutenant  of  Co.  "  D,"  to  Captain  of  Co.  "A,"  February  8,  1862. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Henry  Ford,   29,   Second   Lieutenant  to   June   i,  1862,   then  First 
Lieutenant  to  August  i,  1862,  when  he  resigned. 

2.  Thomas  W.  Dick,  32,  First  Sergeant  to  June  i,  1861,  then  Second 
Lieutenant  to  August  20,  1861,  then  First  Lieutenant  to  January  30,  1862, 
when  he  resigned. 

3.  Benjamin  Rankin,  30,  mustered  February  18,  1862,  appointed  First 
Lieutenant,  February  18,  1862,  resigned  July  27,  1862. 

4.  Lewis  C.    Bartlett,   20,  mustered  August  i,   1862,  appointed  First 
Lieutenant  August  i,  1862,  detailed  on  Gen.  Bartlett's  Staff. 


2$6  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  James  C.   Croft,  25,   Second    Sergeant   to    June    i,  1861,  then    First 
Sergeant  to  August  20,  1861,  then  Second  Lieutenant  to  Januaiy  30,  1862* 
when  he  resigned. 

2.  Nicholas   Christman,    21,   Third    Sergeant   to  June  i,    1861,  Second 
Sergeant  to  March  2,  1862,  then  Second  Lieutenant  to  November  20,  1862, 
when  he  resigned. 

3.  Alexander  McKay,  29,  Private  to  September  19,  1861,  then  Corporal 
to  January  i,    1862,   then   Sergeant    to    November  20,   1862,    then   Second 
Lieutenant  to  March  20,  1863,  then  mustered  out. 

4.  John  C.  Fairchild.  22,  Corporal  to  March  i,  1862,  then   Sergeant  to 
March  20,  1863,  then  Second  Lieutenant. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Joseph  Fitzgerald,  22,  Private  to  April  I,  1862,  then  Sergeant. 

2.  William  Nicholson,  23,  Private  to  January  i,  1862,  then  Corporal  to 
November  20,  1862,  then  Sergeant. 

3.  James   Reed,,   22,  Private  to  January   i,  1863,  then   Corporal  to  No 
vember  20,  1863,  then  Sergeant. 

4.  Albert  Blakely,   Corporal   to  Nov.  2,   1861,   then  Sergeant. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Thomas  Riley,  20,  promoted  to  Corporal,  Dec.  i,  1862. 

2.  William  D.  Gilleo,  23. 

3.  Richard  Champenois,  18,  promoted  July  i,  1862. 

4.  Andrew  J.  Beisinger,  19,  promoted  July  21,  1862. 

5.  Henry  Zorn,  28,  promoted  July  21,  1862. 

6.  Norman  P.  Brown, 24,  mustered  Feb.  25,  1862,  promoted  July  21,  1862. 

7.  Samuel  Murdock,  22,  mustered  December  6,  1861,  promoted  March 
i.  1863. 

8.  Alonzo  E.  Harding,  18,  mustered   March  17,  1862,  promoted  March 

i,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

1.  John  Horton,  25,  mustered  June  25,  1861. 

2.  Charles  Jessup,  mustered  September  i,  1861. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Albaugh,  Isaac,  21,  mustered  September  i,  1861. 

2.  Buckley,  William,  34. 

3.  Barnes,  John,  33. 

4.  Burns,  Patrick,  18. 

5.  Burns,  James,  19. 

6.  Bunyea,  Albert,  21. 

7.  Crawford,  James  R.  T.,  30. 

8.  Collard,  Augustus,  23. 
y.  Conklin,  Abram  G.,  25. 

10.  Craigin,  George  W.,  23. 

11.  Cronan,  Timothy,  24. 

12.  Dykeman,  Albert,  20. 

13.  Delavan,  Charles  H.,  19,  mustered  September  i,  1861. 

14.  Dick,  Charles  W.,  22. 


ROSTER  OF  2/TH    REGIMENT    N.  Y.  VOLS.  257 

PRIVATES — Continued. 

15.  Demarest,  Charles,  18,  mustered  July  10,  1861,  wounded  and  taken 
prisonei  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  returned   to  regiment,  April  30,  1863. 

16.  Felter,  William  H.,  21,  mustered  March  4,  1861. 

17.  Gale,  George,  19. 

18.  Green,  Lawrence,  23. 

19.  Harris,  Samuel,  18. 

20.  Jones,  William,  18. 

21.  Lavinus,  Abram  F.,  18. 

22.  Lavinus,  George,  23,  mustered  July  10,  1861. 

23.  Martin,  William,  22. 

24.  McLean,  Robert,  35,  mustered  July  10,  1861. 

25.  McAinch,  Daniel,  22. 

26.  O'Brien,  Andrew,  28. 

27.  Pattison,  Henry  D.,  18,  mustered  July  10,  1861. 

28.  yuinn,  Christopher,  21. 

29.  Reynolds,  Edward,  22. 

30.  Shaughnessy,  John,  22. 

31.  Stokem,  Alexander,  36,  mustered  Aug.  20,  1861. 

32.  Smith,  Willard,  25,  mustered  July  10,  1861. 

33.  Williamson,  James,  24. 

34.  Whiston,  Charles  B.,  28. 

35.  Wright,  Lewis,  25. 

36.  White,  Martin,  39,  mustered  July  10, 1861. 

DISCHARGED  FOR  DISABILITY. 

1.  Billings,  George,  18,  discharged  February  10,  1863. 

2.  Cole,  John,  26,  mustered  Sept.  i,  1861,  discharged  Feb.  10,  1863. 

3.  Dibble,  William,  26,  discharged  October  31,  1862. 

4.  Dixon,  John,  26,  mustered  Nov.  18,  1861,  discharged  Feb.  5,  1863. 

5.  Driscoll,  Timothy,  40,  mustered  Sept.  i    1861,  disch.  Nov.  20,  1862. 

6.  Evans,  John,  26,  discharged  May  15    1863. 

7.  Fisher,  David  G.,  22,  mustered  July  10,  1861,  disch.  July  14,  1863. 

8.  Gray,  Charles,  18,  mustered  July  10,  1861,  discharged  Mar.  29,  1862. 

9.  Johnson,  John,  32,  discharged  September  i,  1861. 
10.     Kane,  John,  21,  discharged  October  25,  1861. 

n.     Mason,  Nathaniel,  45,  mustered  July  10,  1861,  discharged  Decem 
ber  24,  1862. 

12.  Pride,    Theodore,   21,    mustered   September  6,    1861,    discharged 
February  10,  1863. 

13.  Purdy,  Eugene,  18,  discharged  March  25,  1862. 

14.  Riker,  William  H.,  23,  discharged  August  20,  1862. 

15.  Sweeney,  James,  25,  mustered  July  10,  1861,  disch.  Oct.  25,  1862. 

16.  Travis,  William,  18,  discharged  March  25,  1862. 

17.  Thompson,   Samuel   M.,   24,   mustered  March  4,  1862,   discharged 
December  12,  1862. 

18.-     Wright,  John,  23,  discharged  July  10,  1862. 

19.     Wright,  Nathaniel,  mustered  July  10,  1861,  discharged  May  25,  1862. 


258  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  Frazer,  Henry,  20,  transferred  to  Co.  "  1J,"  September  10,  1861,  by 
order  of  Col.  Bartlett. 

2.  Tucker,    Jacob,   21,    transferred    to    Co.   "K,"June,    20,    1861,    by 
order  of  Col.  Bartlett. 

DIED. 

1.  Burke,  Charles,  24,  mustered  July  9,    1861,  died  October  16,  1861. 

2.  Cantlin,  John,  26,  mustered  February  20,  1862,   killed   in  battle  of 
Crampton's  Pass,  September  14,  1862. 

3.  Hawkins,   Thomas,   33,  accidentally  shot,   November  27,    1862,   at 
Alexandria,  Va. 

4.  Hoyt,  Jesse,  20,  mustered  July  ro,  1861,  died   in  hospital,  Hagers- 
town,  Md.,  October  29,  1862. 

5       Murden,  Jerry,  22,  mustered  July  TO,  i86j  ;   murdered    in    Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  July  21,  1861. 

6.  Newman,  John,  36,  died  in  hospital,  March  nth,   1862. 

7.  Simmonton,    John,   25,   mustered   July    10,  1861,   died   in   hospital, 
January  12,  1862. 

8.  Walker,  Henry  H.,  20,  died   in  hospital,  Philadelphia,  August  22, 
1862,  from  wounds  received  at  Games'  Mill. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Boyer,  John  G.,  21,  mustered  Feb.  25,  1862,  deserted  May  20,  1862. 

2.  Chamberlain,  John,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861, 
deserted  June  18,  1862. 

3.  Corney,  George,  21,  from  battle-field  of  Antietam,  Sept.  16,   1862. 

4.  De  Noyelles,  Levi   L.,    18,    from  battle-field  of  Gaines'  Mill,  June 
27,  1862. 

5.  Farrington,  Daniel   D.,   25,   mustered  July  10,  1861,  from   Alexan 
dria,  Va.,  Sept.  16,  1862. 

6.  Huver,   John,    28,    mustered   July  10,  1861,  from   Alexandria,  Va., 
April  20,  1862. 

7.  Lent,  Cyrus,  22,  from  Washington,    D.  C.,  August  22,  1862. 

8.  Nains,  George  W.,  23,  Elmira,  June  18,  1861. 

9.  Shaffer,  Lewis,  Sergt.,  20,  from  Alexandria,  Va.,  August  20,  1862. 

10.  Shreaves,  Charles,  23,  from  Alexandria,  Va.,  Oct.  22,  1861, 

11.  Sloat,  Jesse  B.,  19,  from  battle-field  of  Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

12.  Washington,  James  F.,  24,  from  Antietam,  September  16,  1862. 

DROPPED  FROM  THE  ROLLS, 

{In  accordance  with   General  Order  No.  162,   Hyrs.   Army  of  the  Potomac.} 

1.  Barret,  Elias,  22,  taken  prisoner  at  battle  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

2.  Sherwood,  Aaron,  21. 

3.  Smith,  Thomas,  19,  taken  prisoner,  battle  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

4.  Miller,  Samuel,  21,  Musician. 

5.  Bronson,  James,  21. 


ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  259 

COMPANY   "B." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  Alexander   D.   Adams,    28,    Captain    from    enrollment  to  Sept.    I, 
1861,  then  Lieutenant-Colonel  to  Oct.  4,  1862,  then  Colonel. 

2.  Henry  R.  White,  27,   First  Lieutenant  from  enrollment  to  Sept.  I, 
1861,  then  Captain.     Wounded  in  battle  of  Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

r.  William  II.  Swan,  44,  Second  Lieutenant  from  enrollment  to 
Sept.  i,  1861,  then  First  Lieutenant  to  July  24,  1862,  then  Captain  Co. 
"H"  until  March,  1863,  then  resigned. 

2.  William  C.  Belden,  19,   Corporal  to  Sept.   i,  1861,  then   Fifth  Ser 
geant  to  Dec.  i,  1861,  then   Fourth  Sergeant  to  Aug.  5,  1862,  then  Second 
Sergeant  to  July  25,  1862,  then  First  Lieutenant,  to  Jan.  4,  1863,  then  re 
signed.     Lost  left  arm  in  the  battle  of   Crampton's  Pass,  Sept.  14,  1862. 

3.  Crosby  Hopkins,  30,  Third  Sergeant  to  August  20,  1862,  then  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  to  Jan.  4,  1863,  then  First  Lieutenant. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Charles  L.  Gaul,  26,  Sergeant-Major  to  Sept.  i,  1861,  then  Second 
Lieutenant  to  Aug.  20,  1862,  then  died  of  disease,  at  New  York  city. 

2.  Charles  Sherman    22,  Fourth  Sergeant  to  Dec.  i,  1861,  then  Third 
Sergeant  to  August  5,  1862,  then  First  Sergeant  to  Jan.  4,  1863    then  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  George  M.  Belden,   21,   Private  from  enrollment  to   Sept.  i,  1861, 
then  Corporal  to   Dec.  i,  1861,  then  Fifth  Sergeant  to   Aug.  5,  1862,  then 
Third  Sergeant  to  Jan    4,  1863,  then  First  Sergeant. 

2.  William    Shattuck,    22,    promoted  to    Corporal,   Sept.    i,    1861,   to 
Third  Sergeant,  Sept.  i,  1862,  to  Second  Sergeant,  Jan.  4,  1863. 

3.  John  C.  Hooper,  26,  promoted  to  Corporal   Dec.  i,  1861,  to  Fourth 
Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1862,  to  Third  Sergeant  Jan.  4,  1863,  wounded  at    Fred- 
ericksburg,  May  3,  1863. 

4.  James  C.  Bowen,  23,  promoted  to  Corporal    Sept.  i,  1861,  then  to 
ranks  Dec.  i,  1861,  then  Fifth  Sergeant  to  Jan.  4,  1863,  then  Fourth  Sergt. 

5.  William    Rooker,  25,  promoted   from   Corporal   to    Fifth   Sergeant 
fan.  4,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  John    D.    McVicar,    21,  wounded   in   battle  of  Gaines'  Mill,   June 
27,    1862. 

2.  Almeron    Crannell,    20,    promoted    to    Corporal    August    i,    1862. 
Taken    prisoner  at    Bull    Run,  July  21,   1861. 

3.  John    Fosmire,    24,   promoted  to   Corporal   August  i,    1862. 

4.  James  Ellison,  26,  promoted  to  Corporal    Sept.  i,  1862. 

5.  Joseph  C.  Sampson,  24,  promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  i,  1862. 

6.  Franklin  Hecox,  19,  promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  i,  1862. 

7.  George  C.  Rooker,  18,  promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.,  1862. 

8.  Win.  H.  Mclntyre,  20,  promoted  to  Corporal  Jan.  4,  1863. 


260  ROSTER  OF  2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Allen,  Willard,  18. 

2.  Althen,  Charles,  19. 

3.  Adams,  Lewis,  19,  dropped  and  restored. 

4.  Braden,  Joseph  A.,  21. 

5.  Brott.  William,   18. 

6.  Brown,    Henry    W.,    26,    wounded    in    battle    of    Fredericksburg, 
May  3d,  1863. 

7.  Bulyea,  Francis,  18. 

8.  Buell,  Dexter,  19,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

9.  Cassidy,  Andrew,  28. 

10.  Czerney,  Godfred,  28,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

11.  Disbrow,  Robert,   19,  taken  prisoner  May  4,  1863,  battle  of  Fred 
ericksburg. 

12.  Durkee,  Robert  M.,  20. 

13.  Durkee,  James,  27. 

14.  Dwinnell,  Roderick,  20. 

15.  Dwinnell,  Myron  H.,  18. 

16.  Dunn,  Gibson,  20. 

17.  Eames,  John  C.,  31. 

18.  Ehret,  Michael,  mustered  Nov.  28,  1861. 

19.  Foster,  George,  34,  mustered  Nov.  28,  1861. 

20.  Hill,  Sylvester  C.,  21. 

2J.     Billiard,  Thomas,  40,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 
22.     Jensee,  Charles  K.,  30,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

Knoblock,  John,  18. 

Klumpp,  George,  18,  mustered  Nov.  27,  1861. 

Lehner,  George,  18. 

26.  Lawrence,    Raymond    D.,    18,    dropped    from    rolls,    and    restored 
May  ii,  1863. 

27.  Murphy,  Cornelius  W.,  21. 

28.  Murphy,  Patrick,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

29.  McCumber,  Edwin,  18,  mustered  Nov.  26,  1861. 

30.  Mahaney,  James,  19,  mustered  July  5,  l861- 

31.  Odell,  Charles,  22. 

32.  Putter,  Charles  A.,  18. 

33.  Potter,    Henry,   31,   taken   sick   August  28,    1862,    in   hospital    till 
Dec.  15,  1862. 

34.  Pudney,    Richard    D.,   19,    dropped  from  the  rolls,    and    restored, 

April  17,  1863. 

35.  Reeling,  William,  19. 

36.  Rooker,  Henry,  20. 

37.  Smith,  William,  18. 

38.  Smith,  John  T.,  20. 

39.  Sherman,  LaFayette,  19,  taken  prisoner,  Dec.  12,1862,  and  parolled. 

40.  Snitzel,  John  H.,  18. 

41.  Snedaker,  James  W.,  21. 

42.  Tindall,  George  W.,  26. 


ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  26l 

PRIVATES. — Continued. 

43.  Tiffing,  Thomas  H.,  20. 

44.  Thomas,  William,  25. 

45.  Wai  rath,  George  H.,  taken  prisoner,  May  4,  1863,  at  Fredericksb'g. 

46.  Westfall,  David,  22. 

47.  Williams,  George  W.,  19. 

48.  Westfall,  Martin,  21. 

49.  Whitney,  Myron  H.,  22. 

50.  Zimmerman,  Augustus,  18. 

DISCHARGED  FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Bullock,  Royal  J.,  44,  discharged   Dec.  29,  1862. 

2.  Betts,  Thomas  S.,  21,  discharged  Aug.  14,  1861. 

3.  Cosart,  John  H.,  17,  discharged  Aug.  26,  1861.      Minor. 

4.  Carey,  John  E.,  18,  discharged  Feb.  18,  1863. 

5.  Foster,  Edward  P.,  discharged  Aug.  10,  1861. 

6.  Hill,  Eben  L.,  18,  discharged   Aug.  14,  1861. 

7.  Jones  David,  25,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  discharged  April  14,  1862. 

8.  Klumpp,     Theodore,    19,     mustered     July     5,     1861,     discharged 
June  19,  1862. 

9.  King,  Thomas,  24,  mustered  Nov.   25,  1861,  wounded  in  battle  of 
Games'  Mill,  discharged  Dec.  31,  1862. 

10.  Leonard,  Ambrose,   19,  discharged   April  5,  1862. 

i:.  Leach,  Edwin,  18,  discharged   Nov.  21,  1862. 

12.  Miller,  Otto,  32,  discharged   Dec.  29,  1862. 

13.  Rhodenback,  Jacob,  22,  discharged  Oct.  25,  1862. 

14.  Snilling,  William,  22,  discharged  Dec.  17,  1862. 

15.  Smith,  George  N.,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  disch'd    Jan.  7,  1863. 

16.  Y'osbtirgh,  William,  19,  discharged  April  29,  1862. 

17.  V7an  Amburgh,  Abram,  25,  discharged  August  3,  1862. 

18.  Vaughan,    James,    33,    wounded    in    battle    of    Gaines'    Mill,    dis 
charged  Sept.  13,  1862. 

19.  Wiley,  Jonathan  G.,  21,  discharged  Oct.  i,  1861. 

20.  Williams,  Seneca,  19,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  disch'd  July  12,  1862. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  Ellis,  Clark  C.,  23,  promoted  to  Sergeant  Major,  Aug.  30,  1862. 

2.  Goodrich,   Melville  W.,  27,   promoted   to    Adjutant    Dec.   i,  1861, 
dismissed  Aug.  30,  1862. 

3.  Holmes,  Robert  E.,  21,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant    Dec.  i,  1861  ; 
Aug.   5,    1862,   to  Second  Lieutenant  in   io8th  New  York,   and  killed  at 
Antietam,  Sept.  17,  1862. 

DIED. 

1.  Allee,  Edward,   21,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  in  the  battle  of 
Gaines'  Mill,  exchanged,  and  died  July  29,  1862. 

2.  Anderson,  Rowland  B.,  23,  July  2,  1862,  died  of  wounds  received 
in  battle  of  Gaines'  Mill. 

3.  Brink.  Chester,  38,  prisoner,  died  in  Richmond,  July  2,  1862. 


262  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

DIED —  Continued, 

4.  Dunn,  Charles,  18,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  2,  1861. 

5.  Hennington,  Edward,  18,  died  of  disease,  Nov.  20,  1862. 
C>.     Keesler,  Alfred,  21,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  15,  1861. 

7.  Laper,  Frederick,  35,  died  of  disease,  Oct.  13,  1862. 

8.  Mills,  Joseph,  21,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  13,  1861. 

9.  Morey,    George,    23,    mustered    Nov.    27,    1861,   died    of    disease, 
April  3,  1862, 

10.  McElvain,  William,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  died  July  2,   1862, 
of  wounds  received  in  battle  of  Games'  Mills. 

11.  Strickland,  Lewis  C.,  18,  died  July  2,  1862,  of  wounds  received  in 
the  battle  of  Games'  Mill. 

12.  Seavey,  Joseph,  23,   promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  i,  1861,  killed  in 
battle  of  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Blynn,  Chauncey, — ,  mustered  Julys.  1861,  deserted  Aug.  13,  1861. 

2.  Fingleton,  John  21,  deserted  Aug.  30,  1862. 

3.  Fossett,  Samuel, — ,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  deserted   July  22,  1861. 

4.  Graves,  Geo.  C.,  24,  mustered  Nov.  28,  1861,  deserted  Aug.  30,  1862. 

5.  Martens,  Adolph,  30,  deserted  July  22,  1861. 

6.  Phillips,  Andrew,  — ,  mustered  Julys,  1861,  deserted  July  26,  1861. 

7.  Richardson,  David, — ,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  deserted  Aug.  13/61. 

DROPPED. 

1.  Lake,  Abram,  mustered  Nov.  29,  1861,  whereabouts  unknown. 

2.  Metxker,  Jacob,  44,  Nov.  29,  1861,  supposed  to  have  been  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Games'  Mill. 

3.  Thorn,  Samuel,  25,  whereabouts  unknown. 

4.  Weaver,  Spencer  C.,  21,  in  hospital,  Fort  Schuyler. 


COMPANY   "C." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett,  26,  Captain  from   enrollment  to   May  21,  1861  ; 
then  Major  until  Sept.  i,  1861;  promoted  to  Brigadier-General  Oct.  4,  1862. 

2.  Edward  L.  Lewis,  21,  First  Lieutenant  from  enrollment  to  May  21. 
1861  ;  then  Captain  until  Aug.  2,  1861  ;   then  resigned. 

3.  Charles    A.  Wells,    19,    Second   Lieutenant  from  enrollment  until 
May  21,    1861  ;    then    First  Lieutenant   to   Sept.    i,    1861  ;    then   Captain. 
Assigned   to  duty  as  Ordnance  Officer,  ist  Div  ,  6th  Corps,  Apr.  20,  1863. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  George   H.    Hurd,   discharged    Feb.   23,   1862,    by  order    Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan. 

2.  James  M.   Watson,   20,  promoted    from    Third    Sergeant   Feb.    15, 
1862,  in  command  of  the  Company  after  July  2,  1862. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

i.     James   King,   20,  mustered   Feb.   5,    1861,    promoted  from  Private 
Sept.  i,  1861,  resigned  March  8,  1862. 


ROSTER   OF   2/TH   REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS.  263 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS — Continued. 

2.  John  E.  Ronk,  18,  promoted  from  Fourth  Sergeant    May  7,  1862. 
wounded  at  Gaines'  Mill,  resigned  Nov.  13,  1862. 

3.  Eri  S.  Watson,  26,  ptomoted  from  Corporal  to   First  Sergeant  May 
7,  1862,  to  Second  Lieutenant  Nov.  13,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Joshua  V.  N.  Williams,  18,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  Nov.  13,  '62. 

2.  Frederick  L.  Gleason,  23,  promoted  from  Corporal   May  7.  1862. 

3.  Gilbert  Mix,  22,  promoted  from  Private  Dec.  3,  1862. 

4.  Robert  Way,   20,   mustered  July  5,    1861,    promoted   from   Private 
Dec.  3,  1862. 

5.  Allen  Banks,   20,   mustered   July  5,  1861,    promoted  from    Private 
Nov.  13,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

t.     Orlan  Harmon,  36,  promoted  May  7,  1862. 

2.  George  W.  F.  Fanning,  22,  promoted   May  7,  1862,  taken  prisoner 
at  Bull  Run. 

3.  Howard  Evans,  21,  mustered  Oct.  18,  1861,  promoted  May  7.  1862. 

4.  Alvin  Gibbs,  25,  mustered  Julys,  1861,  promoted  Dec.  3,  1862. 

5.  John  Stowell,  20,  mustered  Sept.  i,  1861,  promoted  Dec.  3,  1862. 

6.  Alexander  Bailey,  23,  promoted  Jan.  24,  1863. 

7.  Charles  F.  Yenne,  20,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  i8Gi, 
returned  Dec.  10,  1862,  promoted  Jan  24,  1863. 

S.     Alonzo  C.  Taft,  19,  promoted  Jan.  24,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

1.  Lewis  W.  Chichester,  30. 

2.  Claude  Dcmpsey,  20. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Austin,  William  C.,  25. 

2.  Abell,  Oramel  D.,  23. 

3.  Anson,  John,  26,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

4.  Allard,  Andrew  H.,  20,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861. 

5.  Adams,  Martin  H.,  20. 

6.  Bacon,  Orville,   20. 

7.  Bowker,  William  H.,  25. 
S.  Benson,  Henry  N.,  18. 

9.  Benson,  Isaac,  21,  mustered  Sept.  i,  1861,  absent  (sick)  from  Sept. 
15,  1862,  to  May  5,  1863. 

10.  Brown,  David,  21. 

n.  Brown,  Simeon,  19. 

12.  Black,  Sherlock  F.,  20. 

13.  Burrows,  Worcester  S.,  20,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

14.  Barlow,  Abel  J.,  21,  mustered  Oct.  16,  1861. 

15.  Burrows,  George  W.,  18,  mustered  Oct.  17,  1861. 

16.  Bixby,  Calvin  H.,  24. 

17.  Boyden,  John,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run. 

18.  Case,  S.  Girard,  24. 


264  ROSTER   OF    27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

p  K  J  v  A  TRS —  Contin  ued. 

19.  Clow,  John,  21,  mustered  Sept.  30,  1861. 

20.  Dorn,  John,  19. 

21.  Driscoll,  Michael,  21. 

22.  Divine,  Eber  S..  22,  mustered  Oct.  6,  1861. 

23.  Fowler,  Harvey  C.,  22,  mustered  Oct.  12,  r86i. 

24.  French,  Jonathan.  21. 

25.  Gillick,  Thomas,  21. 

26.  Groat,  Simon,  28. 

27.  Hokirk,  Oliver,  21. 

28.  Johnson,  Levi  R..  19. 

29.  Jay,  William  S.,  18, 

30.  Lambert,  Clark,  19. 

31.  Lovejoy,  George,  43,  mustered  Oct.  18,  1861. 

32.  Lovelace,  James  F.,  25,  mustered  Oct.  16,  1861. 

33.  Leonard,  Charles  R.,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861. 

34.  Lakin,  James  C.,  24,  mustered  Sept.  30,  1861. 

35.  Lull,  Harrison,  19,  mustered  Feb.  5,  1861. 

36.  Millmore,  Patrick,  22. 

37.  Martin,  Robert,  18. 

38.  Pratt,  Francis,  19,  mustered  Feb.  5,  1861. 

39.  Post,  Lewis  J.,  21,  mustered  Ocl,  17,  1861. 

40.  Sterling,  Melvin  F.,  27. 

41.  Short,  Joseph,  32. 

42.  Southworth,  Charles,  27,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

43.  Stoutenburg,  Lawrence  N.,  20,  mustered  Sept.  23,  1861. 

44.  Tripp,  William  H.,  19,  mus'd  Oct.  28,  1861,  dropped,  and  restored. 

45.  Vandervort.  John,  23,  mustered  Oct.  17,  1861. 

46.  Van  Alstine,  William  H.,  35,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run. 

47.  Whitman,  Albert  G.,  23. 

48.  Whitney,  Franklin,   19. 

49.  Walker,  Abram,  27,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861. 

DISCHARGED   FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Blair,  Morris  P.,  22,  Corporal,  discharged  Jan.  5,  1863. 

2.  Ballard,  Lewis  W.,  29,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1861. 

3.  Blanshan    Everett,    18,   mustered   Oct.    12,    1861,   discharged   Feb. 
9,  1863. 

4.  Burrows,    A  very  W.,     21,    mustered    Oct.     17,    1861,     discharged 
Feb.  9,  1863. 

5.  Butler,  John  W.,  19,  discharged  Jan.  28,  1863. 

6.  Coe,  Henry,  21,  discharged  March  28,  1862. 

7.  Crumb,  Samuel  B.,  19,  musician,  discharged  Aug.  i,  1861. 

S.  Conrow,  Jacob,  44,  mustered  Oct.  16,  1861,  discharged  Jan.  5,  1863. 

9.  Cafferty,  Edward  M.,  19,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1861. 

10.  Durand,    Frederick,    18,    taken    prisoner   at    Bull    Run,    July    21, 
1861,  wounded  in  battle  of  Crampton's  Pass,  discharged  March   14,  1863. 

11.  Hokirk,  George,  18,  discharged  Sept.  30,  1861. 


ROSTER   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  265 

DISCHARGED  FOR  DISABILITY — Continued. 

12.  Hulse,  Hiram  W.,  44,  mustered  Oct.  16,  1861,  discharged  Feb.  10, 
1862,  on  account  of  injuries  received  while  in  line  of  duty. 

13.  Hotchkiss,    Horatio    G.,   30,   mustered  Oct.    16,    1861,   discharged 
April   25,  1862. 

14.  Hangi,  Joseph,  30,  discharged  April  14,  1863. 

15.  Lynch,   Thomas,   44,   mustered   Oct.    23,    1861,  discharged   Dec.  3, 
1862  ;  old  age  ;  fifth  enlistment. 

16.  Lakin,   Chester,   26,   mustered  July    5,    1861,   discharged   Oct.    12, 
1862,  loss  of  finger  by  accident. 

17.  Landphier,    Deronda,     18,     mustered    July    5,     1861,     discharged 
Aug.  6,  1861. 

18.  McGuire,    Michael,   20,    mustered    July  5,    1861,    discharged    Jan. 
10,  1862. 

19.  Perry,  Charles,  18,  discharged  Jan.  10,  1862. 

20.  Potter,Wm.  H.,  22,  mustered  Feb.  5,  '61,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1862. 

21.  Schramm,  Charles  B.,  33,  discharged  Oct.  31,  1862. 

22.  Service,    Charles   W..    mustered    Feb'.    5,    1861,    discharged    Aug. 
8.   1861. 

23.  Tompkins,  William  H.,  24,  discharged  Dec.  28,  1861. 

24.  Tompkins,  Thomas  W.,  20,  discharged  Aug.  6,  1861. 

25.  Wheeler,  Henry  O.,  21,  Sergeant,  mustered  Feb.  5,  1861,  discharged 
Jan.  17,  1862. 

DIED. 

1.  Andrews,  George   M.,    19,   taken   prisoner  at  battle  of   Bull  Run, 
died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  Aug.  15,  1861. 

2.  Butler,  George,    19,  taken  prisoner  at   Bull  Run,  parolled   in  May, 
1862,  died  Aug.  21,  1862. 

3.  Clark,  Jason  B.,  20,  died  June  10,  1861,  at  Elmira,  N.  Y. 

4.  Green,  Martin,  28,  died  Dec.  n,  1861. 

5.  Maine,  Cornelius  W.,  23,  Sergeant,  died  Dec.  23,  1862 

6.  Shaw,  Jas.  G.,  39,  mustered  October  24,  1861,  died  March  29,  1862. 

7.  Ward,  James  B.,  33,  mustered  Oct.  16,  1861,  died  July,  1862,  after 
having  been  parolled. 

KILLED   IN   ACTION. 

1.  Butler,  John,  19,  at  battle  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

2.  Coe,  John,  20,  at  battle  Fredericksbug,  Va.,  May  4,  1863. 

3.  Esterbrook,  Samuel,  21,  at  battle  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

4.  Miller,  Norman  S.,  23,  at  battle  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

5.  Parker,  William  H.,  20,  at  battle  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Bartholemew,  James,  25,  deserted  Aug.  7,  1861. 

2.  Davis,  George,  21,  deserted  Aug.  14,  1861. 

3.  Dalton,  Gilbert,  36,  mustered  Oct.  28,  1861,  deserted  Jan.  25,  1862. 

4.  Gaffeny,  John,  18,  mustered  Oct.  7,  1861,  deserted  Sept.  17,  1862. 

5.  Hill,  John,  38,  deserted  Aug.  21,  1861. 

6.  Larkin,  Daniel  W.,  28,  deserted  April  15,  1862. 


266  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

DESERTED — Continued. 

7.  Leonard,  Theodore  M.,  20,  Sergeant,  deserted  Oct.  2,  1861. 

8.  Richmond,  Edwin  S.,  19,  deserted  September,  1861. 

9.  Twitchell,  Theodore,  22,  deserted  Aug.  n,  i8fu. 
10.     Warner,  Samuel  H.,  33,  deserted  July  21,  1861. 

DROPPED. 

1.  Barnes,  William,  25,  taken  prisoner  at  Hull  Run. 

2.  Barwise,  James,  21,  nurse  in  hospital  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

3.  Dunn,  Geo.  W.,  21,  Sergeant,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  parolled 
in  May,  1862,  commissioned  as  Captain  logth  New  York  Regiment. 

4.  Davis,  Eugene  M.,  24,  Sergeant,  taken    prisoner  at   Bull    Run,  pa- 
rolled  in  May,  1862,  commissioned  as  Captain  logth  New  York  Regiment. 

TRANSFERRED. 
i.     Carmer,  Charles  E.,  22,  transferred  to  the  Second  Regular  Battery. 


COMPANY     "D." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  Hiram  C.  Rogers,  26,  promoted  to  A.A.G.  on  Gen.  Slocum's  staff, 
July  20,  1862. 

2.  Albert  G.    Northrop,  27,   was   Sergeant   to   July  21,   1861,    Second 
Lieutenant  to  July  2,  1862,  Captain  to  Nov.  27,  1862,  when  he  resigned. 

3.  Albert  M.    Tyler,   26,    was  private  to  July  20,  1862,   then  Second 
Lieutenant  till  Nov.  27,  1862,  then  Captain,  assigned  to  duty  as  Assistant 
Commissioner  of   Muster,  Hdqrs.  First  Div.,  Sixth  Corps,  April  20,  1863. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

T.      Henry  C.  Jackson,  26,  resigned  Aug.  7,  1861. 

2.  Edwin    D.   Comstock,    21,    Sergeant  to  Aug.    7,    1861,   then    First 
Lieutenant.     Feb.  8  promoted  to  Captain  of  Co.  "A." 

3.  George  A.    Dickson,  24,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1861  ; 
to  First  Lieut.  Feb.  8,  1862.      Dismissed  by  order  President,  Oct.  TT,  1862. 

4.  William  M.  Nimbs,  21,  promoted   Oct.  n,  1862,  from   Sergeant   in 
Co.  "  H  "   to  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.    "  D." 

SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

T.     Asa  Park,  35,  killed  in  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 
2.     Charles  N.  Elliott,  18,  promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1861  ;    to  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  Nov.  27,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Oliver   A.    Kilmer,  22,  promoted   to  Corporal   Nov.  i,    1861,    then 
Sergeant  May  6,  1862. 

2.  Chancey  J.  Durfee,  25,  promoted  from  Private  Sept.  i,  1861. 

3.  Edward  M.  Watson,  23,  promoted  from  Corporal  Sept.  i,  1862. 

4.  Frank  Coleman,  18,  promoted  to  Corporal    Sept.  i,  1861  ;    to  Ser 
geant  March  i,  1863. 


ROSTER   OF   2fTH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS.  267 

SERGEANTS — Continue^, 

5.  Charles  B.  Fairchild,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  battle  Hull  Run,  July  21, 
1861;  parolled  May  22,  1862;  returned  to  regiment  Oct.  4,  1862  ;  promoted 
from  Corporal  March  i,  1863. 

CURPORAts. 

1.  Lewis  Walton,  34,  promoted  Sept.  I,  1862. 

2.  Lewis  H.  Brown    18,  mustered  July 4,  1861;  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861 . 

3.  Henry  M.  Crocker,  18,  promoted  Nov.  i,  1861. 

4.  Geo.  O.  Pratt,  .8,  mustered  Aug.  22,  1861;  promoted  Sept.  12,  1862. 

5.  Wm.  H.  Siple,  20,  mustered  Aug.  26,  1861;  promoted  Sept.  12,  1862. 

6.  Wm.  K.Johnson,  23,  mustered  Oct.  3,  1861;  promoted  Mch.  i,  1863. 

7.  Wm.  H.  Gray,  22,  promoted  Marcli  i,  1863. 

S.  Williams,  Elijah  P.,  18,  promoted  to  Corporal,  Feb.  8,  1862. 


1.  Charles  Winter,  22. 

2.  Charles  VanHorn,  19. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Aylsworth,  William  J.,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

2.  Burrows,  John  W.,  24. 

3.  Bentley,  Francis,  36. 

4.  Cole,  Russell  S.,  21. 

5.  Crawford,  Alexander,  20,  mustered  Sept.  30,  1861. 

6.  Case,  John  G.,  20,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861,  dropped,  and   restored 
to  roll,  having  been  absent,  sick  in  hospital. 

7.  Dickinson,  Alon/.o,  23,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

8.  Dickinson,  Reuben  H.,  25. 

9.  Dyer,  Pardee  S.,  28,  mustered  Sept.  i,  1861,  dropped,  absent,  sick 
in  hospital,  returned  May  20,  1863. 

10.  Fagen,  James  P.,  20. 

11.  Fowler,  Frederick,  22. 

12.  Finch,  Abiel,  28. 

13.  Forker,  Richard,  20,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

14.  Gage,  Aaron  W.,  21. 

15.  Gorman,  Matthias,  22. 

16.  Harding,  Charles  A.,  23. 

17.  Hobbs,  Jonas,  35,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

18.  Hurlburt,  George  E.,  21,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

19.  Johnson,  William  E.,  18,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

20.  Kilmer,  George  L.,  18,  mustered  March  20,  1862. 

21.  Lay,  William  H.,  24. 

22.  McLaughlin,  John.  24. 

23.  Minkler,  Jesse,  34,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

24.  Moore,  James  E.,  18,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861. 

25.  Paddleford,  Zael,  24,  mustered  M-ay  24,  1861. 

26.  Pratt,  David,  24,  mustered  Aug.  27,  1861. 

27.  Platt,  Charles  W.,  20,  taken  prisoner  at  battle  of  Bull    Run,  July 
21,  1861,  parolled  May  3,  1862,  dropped,  and  restored  to  roll,  Mar.  30,  1863. 


268  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

PRIVATES —  Continued. 

28.  Reid,  Edwin  S.,  18,  dropped,  and  restored  to  roll. 

29.  Spencer,  Benjamin  F.,  24. 

30.  Spencer,  Nelson,  21. 

31.  Spencer,  William  W.,  27. 

32.  Spendley,  William  [.,  20. 

33.  Slater,   Charles,  19,  accidentally  wounded,  absent,  sick  in  hospital 
since  Jan.  10,  1863. 

34.  Scott,  Arthur,  18,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

35.  Seymour,  Albert,  19,  mustered  Oct.  3,  1861. 

36.  Smith,  Henry  M.,  25,  mustered  Sept.  30,  1862. 

37.  Sampson,  William  P.,  19,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  battle  of 
Bull  Run. 

38.  Tanner,  Watson  B.,  23,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861. 

39.  Webber,  Charles,  22. 

40.  Wilkins,  John,  30. 

41.  Williams,  Daniel  F.,  19,  mustered  July  4,  1861. 

42.  Whittlesey,  L.  Hibbard,  20,  mustered  July  4,  1861. 

43.  Wilson,  Benton  H.,  18. 

44.  White,  Addison  G.,  28,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

45.  Whitehead,  James,  23,  mustered  Oct.  I,  1861. 

46.  Winchell,  21,  Samuel,  mustered  Oct.  5,  1861. 

47.  Waldorff,  Henry,  31,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861. 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Bartram,  William  H.,  22,  First  Sergeant,  discharged  Aug.  I,  1861. 

2.  Armstrong,  Albert  D.,  20,  Corporal,  discharged  Sept.  I,  1861. 

3.  Bolls,  William  D.,  19,  discharged  Nov.  i,  1862. 

4.  Booth,  Alva,  20,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861,  discharged  May  i,  1862. 

5.  Burrows,  Stewart  A.,  23,  discharged  May  8,  1863. 

6.  Canoll,  Heber,  18,  discharged  May,  1862. 

7.  Crawford,  Alexander  H.,  27,  mustered  Oct.    i,    1861,   discharged 
March  i,  1862. 

Crissman,  Philip,  18,  mustered  Aug.  12,  1861,  disch.  Dec.  12,  1862. 
Cone,  Clark  J.,  18,  Corporal,  discharged  May  8,  1863. 

10.  Francisco,  Frank,  28,  discharged  Sept.  i,  1861. 

11.  Fairchild,  Charles  H.,  24,  discharged  Jan.  8,  1862. 

12.  Gates,    William    H.,    30,   mustered    July  4,    1861,   discharged   Oct. 
31,  1862. 

13.  Grimes,  Frank,  28,  mustered  July  4,  1861,  disch.  Nov.  15,  1861. 

14.  Howard,  Asa  L.,  20,  mustered  July  4,  1861,  disch'd  Aug.  2,  1861. 

15.  Hopkins,    William    H.,    20,   mustered  Aug.    12,   iSCi,  discharged 
May  25,  1862. 

16.  Hughes,  Albert,  23,  mustered  Aug.  12,  1861,  disch'd   Dec.  i,  1862. 

17.  Leonard,  Gilbert,  18,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861,  disch'd  Feb.  18,  1862. 

18.  Lester,  James,  30,  discharged  Feb.  i,  1862. 

19.  Monroe,  ThaddiasS.,  22,  discharged  Dec.  3,  1862. 


ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  269 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY — Continued. 

20.  McKune,  Sidney  A.,  20,  wounded  and   taken    prisoner  at  battle  of 
Hull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  discharged  Feb.  16,  1862. 

21.  Newman,  Melvin  A.,  20,  Corporal,  discharged  Aug.  18,  1862. 

22.  Osbcrn,  Joseph  R.,  19,  discharged  Aug.  2,  1861. 

23.  Paddleford,  Newell,  28,  mustered  July  4,  1861,  disch.  July  21,  1862. 

24.  Payne,  Deloss,  34,  discharged  Jan.  20,  1862. 

25.  Randall,  William  J.,  37,  musician,  discharged  Jan    10,  1863. 

26.  Sturdevant,  Stephen  A..  22,  discharged  Aug.  30,  1861. 

27.  Smith,  Charles  W.,  20,  mustered  Oct.  12,  1861,  disch.  July  i,  1862. 

28.  Thompson,  Charles,  18,  discharged'Aug.  3,  1861. 
29      Tripp,  Joseph  F.,  35,  discharged  Jan.  I.  1863. 

30.  Vanaukin,  Gideon,  31.  discharged  Jan.  i,  1863. 

31.  Wilcox,  George  L.,  27,  discharged  Jan.  i,  1862. 

32.  Williamson,  George,  23,  Sergeant,  discharged  Jan.  i,  1863. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  Hrainard,  William  H.  H.,  20,  promoted  to   Second    Lieutenant  and 
transferred  to  Co.  "  F,"  Dec.  14,  1862. 

2.  Kirby,   James  P  ,  28,   promoted    to  Corporal,   Nov.    i,    1861,   pro 
moted  and  transferred  to  Reg.  Staff,  Oct.  15,  1862. 

3.  McCauley,  James  N  ,  19,  mustered   July  4,  1861,  taken  prisoner  at 
Bull  Run,  transferred  to  —  Pennsylvania  Vols. 

4.  Thompson,   Charles  E.,   23,  mustered  July  4,  1861,  Corporal,  pro 
moted  to  Sergeant-Major,  Nov.  T,  1861. 

DIED,  AND   KILLED. 

1.  Bailey,    John   L.,  21,   promoted   from  Corporal  to   First  Sergeant, 
hot  by  rebel  scout,  at  West  Point,  Va.,  May  6,  1862. 

2.  Burge,  Irvin  S.,  28,  killed  in  action  at  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

3.  Brackett,  Samuel,  26,  mustered  July  4,  1861,  died  Jan.  14,  1862,  at 
Alexandria,  Va. 

4.  Dwight,  Webster,  22,  mustered   Aug.  30,  1861,  died  Jan.  20,  1862, 
at  New  York. 

5.  Dwight,  Joseph  B.,  26,  mustered  Aug  20,  1861,  died  Dec.  21,  1861, 
at  Alexandria,  Va. 

6.  Frederick,    Ira,    24,    mustered    July   4,    1861,    killed    in    action  at 
Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

7.  Goodrich,  J.  Lafayette,   20,    mustered  Oct.  5,  1861,  killed  in  action 
at  Crampton's  Pass,  Sept  14,  1862. 

8.  Harding,    Henry  A.,   20,  wounded  at  the  battle   of  Games'  Mill, 
June  27,  1862,  died  Aug.  15,  1862,  at  Philadelphia,   Pa. 

9.  Meecham,  Calvin,  26,  killed  in  action  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

10.  Phelps,  Oscar,   22,   mustered  July  4,   1861,  died  Aug.  n,   1862,  at 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

11.  Pardee,  Cyrus,  26,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  died 
in  Richmond,  about  Aug.  i,  1861. 

12      Snedaker,   James    V.,    19,    wounded  and  taken    prisoner  at    Bull 
Run,  died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  Sept.  14,  1861. 


270  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Hogan,  John   H.,  25,   taken  prisoner  at   Bull   Run,  July  21,  1861, 
released  Jan  21,  1862,  deserted  Feb.  14,  1862. 

2.  Howard,  Chester,  28,  deserted  April  4,  1862. 

3.  Hoyt,  David,  25,  mustered  Oct.  n,  1861,  deserted  March  20,  1862. 

4.  Trail,  William,  23,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull   Run,  July  21,  1861,  de 
serted  March  20,  1862. 

5.  Tiffany,  George,  22,  mustered  Oct.  n,  1861,  deserted  Dec.  31,  1861. 

6.  Ransom,  George,  21,  mustered  Sept.  i,  1861,  deserted  Aug.  26,  '62. 

DROPPED. 

i  Coon,  James,  20,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run, 
dropped  by  General  Order  No.  162,  August  14.  1862,  submuster  out, 
Aug.  19,  1864. 

2,  Hedding,  George,  17,  dropped  Aug.  14,  1862,  by  General  Order 
No.  162. 


COMPANY    "E." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  George  G.  Wanzer,  21,  promoted  to  Major,  Oct.  4,  1862. 

2.  Edward  P.  Gould,  26,  promoted  from   Second   Lieutenant  to   First 
Lieutenant  Feb.  26,  1862  ;  to  Captain  Oct    4,  1862. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Chas.  S.  Baker,  23,  resigned  on  account  of  disability,  Feb.  26,  1862. 

2.  Geo.  H.  Robertson,  — ,  promoted  from  First  Sergeant  in  Co.  "G," 
to  Second  Lieutenant  July  22,  1862  ;   to  First  Lieutenant  Oct.  4,  1862. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Joseph   Webster,   28,   promoted  from   Sergeant  to    First    Sergeant 
Dec.  i,  1861  ;    to  Second  Lieutenant  Feb.  26,  1862  ;   died  July  22,  1862,  at 
Portsmouth,  Va.,  while  a  prisoner,  from  wounds  received  at  Games'  Mill. 

2.  Clinton  E.   Hodgman,  22,  promoted    from   Sergeant  Co.    "  K,"  to 
Second  Lieutenant,   Oct    4,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  William  E.  Hyatt,  24,  promoted  from  Corporal  to  Sergeant  Nov.  i, 
1861  ;    to  First  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1862. 

2.  Morton  H.  Gould,  25,  must'd  Aug.  28,  1861;  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

3.  Chas.W.  Peacock, 22,  promoted  from  Corp.  to  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1861. 

4.  Newton  Thompson,   25,   promoted   to  Corporal   Sept    i,   1861  ;    to 
Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1862. 

5.  Duncan   L.   Brown,  32,   promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.   i,   1861  ;    to 
Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Frederick  W.   Crampton,  — ,   mustered  July  5,    1861  ;    promoted 
Sept.    i,    1861. 

2.  James  H.  Price,  26,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 


ROSTER  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS.        271 

CORPORALS —  Continued. 

3.  John  P.  Colby,  36,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861;   promoted  Sept.  i,  iSf>i. 

4.  John  F.  Cooper,  20,  promoted  Nov.  i,  1861. 

5.  John  T.  Clague,  2o,  wounded   and  taken   prisoner  at    Hull    Run  ; 
promoted  Sept    i,  1862. 

6.  Clark  Stufdevant,  19,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861  ;    promoted  Sept.  T, 
1862  ;  wounded  at  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  May  3,  1863. 

7.  Thomas  Carolan,  18,  promoted   Sept.  i,  1861. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Bolton,  Isaac,  19,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

2.  Brophy,  James,  36,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

3.  Brady,  William  H.,  22.  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

4.  Baker,  George,  18. 

5.  Bond,  George  A.,  19. 

6.  Bachman,   Sigismund,  21. 

7.  Bell,  John  L.  Jr.,  18. 

8.  Bounds,  John,  18. 

9.  Cooney,  Patrick,  46,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

10.  Coppernall,  Andrew,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

11.  Cowles,  Roswell  B.,  18,  mustered  Aug.  28.  1861. 

12.  Derx,  Conrad,  20. 

13.  Dumphy,  Patrick,  19. 

14.  Edson,  John  B.,  23. 

15.  Gunther,  Frank,  19. 

16.  Hall,  John  T.,  20. 

17.  Hibbard,  Horace,  27. 

18.  Hickman,  Joseph  H.,  18. 

19.  Hosmer,  Henry,  19,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

20.  Harrington,  Michael,  18,  musician. 

21.  Hilton,  Peter,  21. 

22.  Harper,  Joseph,  18,  mustered   Aug.  28,  1861. 

23.  Kneale,  William,  28. 

24.  Kent,  George  W.,  19. 

25.  Mason,  John  H.,  21. 

26.  Mack,  John   F.,  22. 

27.  Mylacraine,  Robert,  18. 

28.  Nealis,  Michael,  18. 

29.  O'Conner,  Christopher,  19,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

30.  Page,  John  G.,  19. 

31.  Phalan,  Thomas,  28. 

32.  Pike,  Robert  R.,  46,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

33.  Richards,  Joseph  F.,  25. 

34.  Ross,  David  C.,  19. 

35.  Reynolds,  William  W.,  18.  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

36.  Schomann,  Frederick,  21. 

37.  Schroeder,  Frederick,  19. 

38.  Tracy,  Samuel,  20. 


2/2  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

PRIVATES — Continued. 

39.  Tiernay,  Daniel,  24. 

40.  Vunk,  Joseph  C.,  22. 

41.  Van  Antwerp,  John  H.,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

42.  Wilson,  John,  25,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

43.  Wallis,  Frederick,  18,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861. 

44.  Weeks,  James  E  ,  19,  musteied  Aug    28,  1861. 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Andrews,  James  M.,  23,  discharged  Aug.  28,  1861. 

2.  Armstrong,  Delos,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861,  dis.  Feb.   10,  1863. 

3.  Bachelder,  Milton  D.,  20,  Corporal,  discharged  Oct.  4,  1862. 

4.  Baker,  Thomas  F.,  22,  discharged  Aug.  4,  1861. 

5.  Booth,  Cyrus  M.,  mustered   Aug.  28,  1861,  disch'd   March  6,  1862. 

6.  Burbank,  John  K.,  20,  discharged  Jan.  19,  1863,  from  wounds  re 
ceived  at  battle  of  Games'  Mill. 

7.  Butler,  Edward,  — ,   mustered  July  5,  1861,  discharged   March  25, 
1863,  from  wounds  received  at  Games'  Mill. 

8.  Cotrell,  William  O.,  19,  discharged  Sept.  9,  1861. 

9.  Ellerbeck,   Robert  E.,  25,  First   Sergeant,  discharged  Oct.  I,  1861. 

10.  Freeland,   Christopher,   — ,    mustered    Aug.   28,    1861,    discharged 
Sept.  15,  1862. 

11.  Goodwin,    Frank,  18,    discharged    Sept   27,    1861,   minor   and   for 
eigner  (request  of  Lord  Lyons). 

12.  Gibbs,  Augustus,  18,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861,  dis.  Jan.  27,  1862. 

13.  Hafner,  Paul,  — ,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  discharged  Sept.  i,  1861. 

14.  Hanlon,  William,  19,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run  ; 
leg  amputated  ;  discharged  Nov.  2,  1861. 

15.  Hopwood,  John  M.,  18,  discharged  Oct.  r,  1861. 

16.  Jumph,  Walter  V.,  22,  discharged  July  6,  1861. 

17.  Kelly,   Mark    H.,  26,  discharged  Aug.  18,    1861,   over  exertion   re 
turning  from  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

18.  Lawrence,  Henry  C.,  discharged  Aug.  27,  1861,  being  a  minor. 

19.  Merrill,  William  H.,  26,  Corporal,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at 
Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  exchanged  Jan.  3,  (862,  disch'd  March  6,  1862. 

20.  Morrison,  Thomas,  19,  discharged  Feb.  14,  1862. 

21.  Mills,  Charles,  18,  no  date  given. 

22.  Tallon,  William,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861,  disch'd  Oct. — ,  1861. 

23.  Tourgee,   Albion  W.,  23,   Sergeant,   discharged  Aug.   8,    1861,   in 
jury  of  spine  received  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

24.  Wadsworth,  Charles,  19,  discharged  Dec.  31,  1862. 

25.  Watson,  John    19,  discharged  Feb.  8,  1863. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  Bosley,  Daniel  W.,  21,  promoted   to  hospital  steward  of  regiment. 

2.  Cole,   Daniel   D.,  — ,  mustered   Aug.  28,  1861,   transferred  to  86th 
Regiment  N.  Y.  Volunteers,   June  18,  1862. 

3.  Cheney,  W.  Fitch,  28,  promoted  to  hospital  steward  of  regiment. 


ROSTER   OF   27'1TI    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  2/3 

DIED    AND    KILLED. 

1.  Crawford,  Walter,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861,  died  Feb.  25,  1863, 
at  Smoketown  (Md.)  hospital. 

2.  Dee,  John,  died  Jan.  29,  1862. 

3.  Durkee,  LaFayette,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  28,  1861,  killed  at  battle  of 
Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

4.  Fuller,  Gilbert  W.,  29,  musician,  killed  June  5,  1862,  at   Mechan- 
icsville,  Va. 

5.  Guiner,  Jacob  G.,  21,  died  May  29,  1862,  at  Savage  Station,  Va. 

6.  Hosmer,  Charles  A.,  18,  killed   in  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va., 
May  3,  1863. 

7.  Lavis,  Richard,  — ,  mustered   Aug.  28,   1861,  died  Nov.  i,  1862,  at 
Hagerstown,  Md. 

8.  Richardson,  William,  — ,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  died  Nov.  7,  1862, 
at  Hagerstown,   Md. 

9.  Stillson,  Everard  P.,  22,  Corporal,  promoted  to  Sergeant,  killed  at 
Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  1862, 

DESERTED. 

r.     Ambrose,    Edward  T.,  18,  deserted  Aug.  13,  1861,  from  Washing 
ton,  D.  C. 

2.  Arnott,   John  T.,    21,    deserted  Aug.    10,  1861,   on  furlough   since 
Aug.  i,  1861. 

3.  Decroyft,  Abram  W.,  24,  deserted  July  6,  1861,  from  Elmira,  N.V. 

4.  Goubleman,  Edward,  18,  deserted  Feb.  4,1862,  from  Camp  Frank 
lin,  Va. 

5.  Hislop,  Ebenezer,  deserted  Feb.  4,  1862,  from  Camp  Franklin,  Va. 

6.  Halstead,  James  W,  — ,  Corporal,  mustered  July  5.  1861,   deserted 
Aug.  i,  1862,  from  hospital,  Portsmouth,  Va. 

7.  Jenks,  Woodburn  C.,   21,    deserted  Aug.  18,  1862,   on  the   march 
from  Harrison's  Landing. 

8.  Moore,  James,  20,  deserted  August  5,  1861. 

9.  Morton,  Henry,    22,   promoted   to   Sergeant  Oct.  i,  1861,  deserted 
Aug.  8,  1862,  from   Harrison's  Landing,  Va. 

10.  O'Brien,    Patrick,  — ,  mustered    July    5,    1861,    deserted  Aug.   21, 

1861,  still  on  furlough  of  7  days. 

11.  McGettrick,  Michael,  21,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  exchanged, 
but  never  returned  to  Company. 

12.  Marshall,   Charles,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  28,   1861,  deserted  April   8, 

1862,  from  Catlett's  Station,  Va. 

13.  Patnode,  John,  19,  deserted  Aug.  i,  1861. 

14.  Putney,  William,  21,  deserted  ]u\y,  1861. 

15.  White,  James,  18,  deserted  July,  1861. 


2/4  ROSTER   OF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS, 

COMPANY   "F." 
CAPTAINS. 

1.  Peter  Jay,  37,  resigned  Aug.  14,  1862. 

2.  William  H.  II.  Brainard,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  from  Co. 
"  I),"  Dec    14,  1861  ;  to  Captain,  Aug.  14,  1862  ;  resigned  Nov.  27,  1862. 

3.  George  H.  Roman,  20,  promoted  from  Corporal  to  Sergeant,  Aug. 
i,  iS6i  ;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Aug.  14,  1862  ;  to  Captain,  Nov.  27,  1862. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  William  S.  Sheldon,  23,  resigned  Aug.  r,  iS6r, 

2.  Lafayette   Cross,   35,    promoted   from   Second    Lieutenant   to   First 
Lieutenant,  Aug.  i,  1861,  resigned  Feb.  22,  1862. 

3.  Andrew   Patrullo,  — ,  appointed    First    Lieutenant,    Feb.  22,  1862, 
resigned  Jan.  18,  1863. 

4.  John   R.  Briggs,  21,  promoted   from  Second  Lieutenant  Co.  "  G," 
Jan.  18,  1863. 

SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Frank  E.  Northrop,   20,  promoted  from  Sergeant,  Aug.  I,  1861,  re 
signed  Dec.  14,  1861. 

2.  Frederick  Randall,  21,  promoted  from  Corporal  to  Sergeant  Sept. 
i,  1861,    reduced  to  ranks   July  i,  1862,  promoted    to  Second   Lieutenant, 

Nov.  27,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Joseph  L.  Ross,  28,  promoted  to  First  Sergeant, Aug.  i,  1862,  from 
Sergeant. 

2.  Luther  N.  Hubbard,  23. 

3.  Daniel  W.  Wetherell,  promoted  to  Corporal,  Aug.  r  1861,  to  Ser 
geant,  July  27,  1862. 

4.  William   M.    Robinson,    22,    mustered  July   5,    1861,    promoted    to 
Corporal,  Sept.  i,  1861,  to  Sergeant,  Feb.  20,  1863. 

5.  Rollin  B.  Truesdell,   21,  promoted   to  Corporal,    Nov.  i,  1862  ;    to 
Sergeant,   Feb.  20,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Edwin  f.  Wilbur,  18,  promoted  Aug.  i,  1862. 

2.  Thompson    P.    Howland,  23,   mustered    July   8,    1861  ;     promoted 
Sept.  i,    1861. 

3.  Albert  Knirrin,  26,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;   promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

4.  William  B.  Westervelt,  24,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

5.  John  N.  Kennedy,  22,  promoted  Aug.  i,  1862. 

6.  Solomon  Darling,  24,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1862. 

7.  Harrison  Guiles,  20,  promoted  Nov.  i,  1862. 

8.  Sanford  Bradbury,  21,  promoted  Feb.  20,  1863. 

MUSICIAN. 
I.     Thomas  C.  Smith,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Bogart,  James  S.,  23,  mustered  Oct.  21,  1861. 

2.  Brown,  Hiram,  Jr.,  19. 


ROSTER   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  2?$ 

I'K  I  v  ATES — Continued. 

3.  Burnside,  Gould,  18,  mustered   Oct.  3,  1861. 

4.  Bowker,  Charles  A.,  19. 

5.  Corey,   Henry,  19. 

6.  Cummings,  Benjamin,  20. 

7.  Conklin,  Owen  D.,  21. 

8.  Corby,  Leonard,  21,  mustered  July  5,  i8()i. 

9.  Dunning,  James  L.,  24. 

10.  Dunning,  John,  28. 

11.  Evans,  Bailey,  20,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

12.  Evans,  James  H.,  18. 

13.  Finch,  George  W.,  19. 

14.  Gorman,  Nathaniel,  42. 

15.  Handy,  Charles  ().,  27. 

16.  Hayes,  Timothy,  18. 

17.  Holland,  Harlan,   21. 

18.  Houlihan,  Patrick,  19. 

19.  Howland,  Warren,  35. 

20.  Kearn,  John,  24,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run. 

21.  Keeler,  David   T.,  21,  mustered  Oct.  21,  1861  ;    wounded  at  battle 
of  Crampton's  Pass,  Sept.  14;  in  hospital  till   May  17,  1863. 

22.  Kelly,  Thomas,  21. 

23.  Lander,  Oscar   K.,  19. 

24.  Lester,  David  A.,  19. 

25.  Miller,  Charles,  36. 

26.  Monroe,  Alexander,  23,  mustered  Oct.  21,  1861. 

27.  O?trander,  J.,  Washington,  19. 

28.  Perry,  Albert,  23,  mustered  July  8,  1861. 

29.  Redfield,  Henry,  23. 

30.  Rood,  Andrew,  21. 

31.  Slater,  Timothy  S.,  19. 

32.  VanValkenburg,  William   S.,  19,  taken   prisoner  at  Bull  Run  ;   re 
turned  to  regiment  Feb.  10,  1863. 

33.  Welch,  Albert,   25. 

34.  Wright,  Reuben  A.,  18,  taken   prisoner  at   Bull    Run  ;    returned  to 
regiment  April   7,  1863. 

35.  Walker,  David,  24. 

36.  Yates,  Theodore  H.,  21,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Benedict,  Ira  C.,  20,  Aug.  S, '1861. 

2.  Bishop,  George  W.,  18,  mustered  Oct.  2,  1861  ;  disch.  June  24,  '62. 

3.  Benedict,  George  H.,  18,  June  24,  1862. 

4.  Butts,  Charles  W.,  22,  wounued  at  Games' Mill;  disch.  Sept.  24,  '62. 

5.  Barry,  James,  34,  wounded  at  Games'  Mill  ;  disch.  May  i,  1863. 

6.  Cooper,  George,  21,  mustered  July  3,  1861  ;  disch.  Jan.  i,  1862. 

7.  Crary,  Charles,  18,  mustered  Oct.  2,  1861  ;  disch.   March  21,  1862. 

8.  Dawson,  Lee  T.,  18,  Aug.  i,  1862.     Minor. 


276      ROSTER  OF  2;TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY — Continued. 

().      Durfee,  James,  40,  Dec.  u,  1862,  at   Philadelphia. 
10.      Davis,  Joseph  L.,  18,  disch.  Sept.  24,  1862,  from  wounds  received 
at  battle  of  Games'  Mill. 

n.      French,  Franklin,  41,  musician,  discharged  Dec.  12,  1861. 

12.  French,  William   H.,  20,    mustered    Dec.  2,    1861  ;  disch.  March  3, 
1863,  from  wounds  received  at  Crampton's  Pass,  Sept.  14,  1862. 

13.  June,  John,  22,  Corporal,  discharged  Aug.  16,  1861. 

14.  Kelsey,  George  E.,  21,  mustered  Oct.  3,  1861  ;  discharged  Dec.  15, 
1862,  from  wounds  received  at  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

15.  Livermore,  Edward,  18,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861  ;  disch.  June  23,  '62. 

16.  Lobdell,  Rosander,  27,  discharged   Nov.  20,  1862. 

17.  Lade,  Joseph,  23,  discharged  Dec.  31,  1862,  from  wounds  received 
at  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

18.  Rose,  Josiah  H.,  40,  discharged  March  3,  1863. 

19.  Spencer,  James,  23,  discharged  Aug.  8,  1861. 

20.  Shaw,  Philander  P..  20,  mustered  Julys,  1861  ;  disch.  July  3,  1863. 

21.  Troop,  Lucius,  18,  discharged  Feb.  20,  1863. 

22.  Van  Dusen,  Charles,  24,  mustered  July  5,  186] ;  disch.  Apr.  16,  '63. 

23.  Williams,  Henry,  18,  discharged  Nov.  24,  1862. 

24.  Whitney,  Harvey  D.,  19,  Sergeant;  was  Corporal  till  Aug.  14,  '62  ; 
discharged   Feb.  20,  1863. 

DIED,  AND   KILLED. 

1.  Benedict,  Davolson  P.,  24,  Sergeant,  July  27,  1862. 

2.  Burgee,  Charles,  20,  Oct.  20,  1862. 

3.  Coon,  Jesse  P.,  28,  Dec.  25,  1861. 

4.  Cresson,  Miles,  18,  killed  in  battle  of  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

5.  Curren,  William  E.,  18,  Feb.  2,  1862. 

6.  Ferguson,  John  R.,  26,  Aug.  16,  1861. 

7.  Hawkins,  Daniel,  23,  March  12,  1862. 

8.  Lockwood,  Silas  W.,  26,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;  died  Feb.  9,  1863. 

9.  Rogers,  Frank  B.,  ry,  killed  at  Crampton's  Pass,  Sept.  14,  1862. 

10.  Reynolds,  James  D.,  19,  Nov.  24,  1862. 

11.  Randall,  Wesley,   25,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;    killed  in   the  battle 
of   Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

12.  Turner,  David  M.,  23,  Jan.  28,  1863. 

13.  Waterman,  James  Frederick,  19,  killed  at  Crampton's  Pass,  Sept. 
14,  1862. 

14.  Warner,  Edgar  H.,  21,  taken   prisoner  at  battle  of   Bull   Run,  July 
21,  1861  ;   died  Aug.  I,  1862. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Beckford,  George  W.,  22,  Aug.  i,  1861. 

2.  Barrow,  Eben  E.,  26,  mustered  Oct.  2,  1861  ;  deserted  Mch.  31,  '62. 

3.  Barrows,  Seth,  21,  mustered  Oct.  2,  1861  ;  deserted  February,  1863. 

4.  Boyd,  Edward  C.,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;    deserted  July  7,  '62. 

5.  Evans,  Charles  E.,  18,  Nov.  9,  1861. 

6.  Gerig,  Harrison,  20,  April  17,  1862. 


ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS.  2/7 

DESERTED—  Continued. 

•j.      Holland,  Charles,  19,  Aug.  3,  1861. 

8.  McAvoy,  Joseph  H.,  19,  April  17,  1862. 

9.  Osborne,  William  L.,  21,  Oct.  i,  1861. 

10.  Pierce,  Melvin  T-,  Corporal  ;  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861  ;  deserted 

April  17,  1862. 

TI.  Sherwood,  Charles  C.,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;  from  battlefield  of 
Fredericksburg,  May  2,  1863.  Second  desertion. 

12.  Smith,  William  II.,  24,  mustered  Oct.  10,  Y>i  ;  deserted  Apl.  17,  '62. 

13.  Snell,  Archibald,  19,  April  17,  1862. 

14.  Taylor,  Daniel  H.,  35,  mustered  Oct.  2,  1861;   deserted  Sept.  r,  '62. 

DROPPED. 

1.  Corson,  Nicholson  A.,  25,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  Y>r. 
Never  reported. 

2.  Hygard,  John,  19,  missing  since  battle  of  Bull  Run. 

3.  Lawson,  Allen,  20,  mustered  Oct.  3,  1861  ;  sent  to  hospital  May  i, 
1862.     Never  since  heard  from. 

4.  Watrous,  Edwin  M.,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 


COMPANY     "G." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  James  Perkins,  58,  resigned  Nov.  7,  1861. 

2.  Philo    D.    Phillips,   29,    promoted   from  First   Lieutenant  Nov.  7, 
1861,  resigned  April  26,1862. 

3.  H.  Seymour  Hall,  24,  promoted  from  Second  Lieutenant  April  24, 
1862  ;  after  Jan,  1863,  on  detached  service  as  Brigade  Inspector  on  Staff 
of  Gen.  J.  J.  Bartlett. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Seymour  Pierce,  27,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  from   First  Ser 
geant   Nov.    7,    1861,  to  Captain   of   Company    "K"  June  9,    1862;    after 
Nov.  7,  1861,  on  detached  service  in  Signal  Corps. 

2.  Charles  Rock,  24,  promoted  to  Corporal   Nov.  7,  1861,  to  Sergeant 
Sept.  i,  1862,  to  First  Lieutenant  Nov.  28,  1862. 

SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  John    R.   Briggs,   2r,   promoted  from   Sergeant   to    First    Sergeant 
Nov.  7,  1861,  to  Second   Lieutenant   April  26,  1862,  to  First  Lieutenant  of 
Co.  "F"  Jan.  18,  1863. 

2.  Edward   H.  Brady,  20,  promoted  from  Sergeant  to   First  Sergeant, 
Sept.  i,  1862,  to  Second   Lieutenant  Jan.  18,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  j.  Herbert  Perkins,  24,  mustered   Sept.  21,  1861,  promoted  to  Ser 
geant  Nov.  7,  1861,  to  First  Sergeant  Feb.  18,  1863. 

2.  Arch.  L.  VanNess,  18,  promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  7,  1861,  to  Ser 
geant  Sept.  i,  1862. 


2/tf  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

SERGEANTS — Continued. 

3.  Van  R.  Pratt,  18,  promoted  to  Corporal    Dec.  i,  1861,  to  Sergeant 
Nov.  i,  1862. 

4.  George  Banks,   22,  promoted  to  Corporal  April   24,  1862,   to  Ser 
geant  Nov.  i,  1862, 

5.  Silas  A.  Sylvester,  promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  7,  i861,  to  Sergeant, 
Feb.  18,  1863. 

CORPORALS; 

1.  George  A.  Spring,  21,  promoted  June  21,  1862. 

2.  John  A.  Copeland,  18,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1862. 

3.  Solomon   Wood,   29,   wounded  and   taken  prisoner  at   Bull   Run, 
July  21,  1861  ;  exchanged  Jan.  3,  1862,  and  returned  Jan.  13,  1862. 

4.  Charles  F.  Wells,  18,  promoted  Nov.  i,  1862, 

5.  Charles  H.  Mitchell,  23,  promoted  Nov.  i,  1862. 

6.  Myron  C.  Watkins,  24,  promoted  to  Sergeant  from  Corporal  April 
24,  1862  ;  reduced  to  ranks  till  Nov.  i,  1862,  then  promoted  to  Corporal 

7.  Tyler  J.  Briggs,  23,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  promoted  to  Cor 
poral  Sept.  i,  1862. 

8.  Michael  Cavanaugh,  26,  promoted  Feb.  18,  1863. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Agard,  Gardner  W.,  22,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861, 
released  June  3,  1862. 

2.  Atchinson,  Jonathan  B.,  21. 

3.  Baker,  William  N.,  18. 

4.  Brabon,  Robert,  26. 

5.  Boyd,  Alexander,  20. 

6.  Chappel,  George  H.,  23. 

7.  Clark,  William  H.,  21,  mustered  Sept.   21,  1861  ;  sent  to  hospital 
May  7,  1862. 

8.  Emmons,  Seymour,  — ,  mustered   Sept.  i,  1861  ;  taken  prisoner  at 
Savage  Station,  Jan.  29,  1862. 

9.  Frazee,   Robert  S.,   21,  on  detached  service,   General   Hospital  at 
Frederick  City,  since  Sept.  14,  1862. 

10.  Frazee,  Charles  W.,  20. 

11.  Gardner,  Perry,  19. 

12.  Grover,  Charles  A.,  22. 

13.  Hanington,  Ovid  G.,  18. 

14.  Hibbard,  Henry,  24. 

15.  Joiner,  Andrew  J.,  20,  mustered  July  8,  1861. 

16.  Jenkins,  Artemas,  22. 

17.  Loveland,  Norman  P.,  47. 

1 8.  Markham,  Henry,  21. 

19.  Marra,  William,  18. 

20.  Maltman,  William,  25. 

21.  Mileham,  William,  27,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

22.  Marble,  Albert  B.,  — ,  mustered  Dec.  14,  1861. 


ROSTER   QF   2;TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  279 

P  R I  v  ATES —  Continued. 

23.  Merritt,  John,   19,  mustered  July  8,   1861,   taken  prisoner  at  Bull 
Run,  July  21,  1861. 

24.  Peak,  Stephen,  29. 

25.  Preston,  Atwood,  23,  mustered  July  8,  1861. 

26.  Rice,  James  H.,    21,   on    detached   service  at  First   Div.    General 
Hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  since  June  29,  1862. 

27.  Stone,  Francis  M.,  20. 

28.  Stone,  Henry  H.,  19. 

29.  Stirling,  Henry  H.,  20,   deserted  Aug.  30,  1862  ;   returned  April  8, 
1863,  under  President's  Proclamation. 

30.  Speer,  Jacob  C.,  — ,  mustered  Dec.  4,  1861. 

31.  Taft,  Myron  L.,  20. 

32.  Wells,  Henry  G.,  18. 

33.  Willys,  David,  21,  left  in  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Aug.  28,  '62. 

34.  Willison,  William,  28,  absent  without  leave  from  Oct.  15,  1862,  to 
April  17,  1863  ;  returned  under  President's  Proclamation. 

35.  Westbrook,  Nehemiah,  28. 

36.  Willoughby,  Thomas,  27. 

DISCHARGED  FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Butler,  Joseph  B.,  21,  Nov.  8,  1861,  on  account  of  wounds  received 
at  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

2.  Bartlett,  Charles  E.,  21,  mustered  Dec.  14,  1861  ;  disch.  Feb.  4,  '63. 

3.  Burr,    Charles   W.,  21,  Sept.  n,  1862,  on   account   of    wounds   re 
ceived  at  battle  of  Games'  Mill.  June  27,  1862. 

4.  Bond,  Edwin    E.,  23,    wounded  and   taken  prisoner  at  Bull'  Run  ; 
discharged  July  16,  1862. 

5.  Carter,  John  H.,  22,  Jan.  20,  1862. 

6.  Coe,  William  H.,  20,   Nov.  22,  1862. 

7.  Dartt,  Rollin  P.,  18,  Aug.  12,  1862,  by  reason  of  wounds  received 
at  Games'  Mill. 

8.  Davis,  E.  Amergo,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861;  disch.  July  31,  1861. 

9.  Hunt,  Arthur  H.,  21,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run;  disch.  Aug.  4,  '62. 

10.  Hamilton,  Mills  D.,  18,   Feb.  n,  1862. 

11.  Hall,  William,  23,  May  n,  1862. 

12.  Johnson,  William,  F.,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;  disch.  Aug.  3,  '61. 

13.  Keeney,  Ennis  A.,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;  disch.  June  14,  1862. 

14.  Loveland,  John  C.,  — ,  mustered  Dec.  14,  1861  ;  disch.  Apr.  13,  '62. 

15.  Laty,  Henry,  — ,  mustered  July  12,  1861  ;  disch.  July  12,  1862. 

16.  Paul,  Samuel,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;  disch.  Aug.  8,  1861. 

17.  Sewell,  Thomas  E.,  18,    Oct.   29,    1862,    by  reason   of    wounds  re 
ceived  at  Games'  Mill. 

18.  Steele,  Lawrence  J.,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;  disch.  July  31,  '61. 

19.  John  Smith,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;    discharged  Sept.  10,  1861. 

20.  Stone,  Theodore,  19,  Dec.  2,  1862. 

21.  Wells,  G.  Wiley,  — ,  Jan.  12,  1862. 


28O  ROSTER    OF    27'FH    REGIMENT    N.  Y.  VOLS. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  [Render,  Frederick, — ,  Corp..  to  Non-Commiss'd  Staff",  May  29,  '61. 

2.  Cook,  (George    II.,   — ,    Musician,    to    N  on-Commissioned    Staff, 

May  29,    1 86 1. 

3      Corfin,    Benjamin   S  ,  23,  Corporal,   to    Non-Commissioned    Staff", 
puartermaster's   Sergeant,    May  i,    1862. 

4.  Fleming.    Benson   S.,  — ,  mustered   Aug.  30,  1862;    May  14,  1863, 
to  Sixth  Army  Corps  Hospital. 

5.  Fladuny,    George,  — ,  mustered   Sept.  i,  1862  ;  May  31,  1863,    sent 
back  to  Sixth  Army  Corps,  from  Elmira,   N.  Y. 

6.  Guinan,    Martin,  — ,  mustered   Sept.  31,  1862.      May  31,  1863,  sent 
back   to  Sixth  Army  Corps,  from   Elmira,   N.  Y. 

7.  McMahon,  William    II.,  22,  promoted   to  Corporal,    Nov.  7,  1861  ; 
to  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  K,   Sept.  n,  1862. 

S.     Robertson,   George   H,  — ,  promoted   from    Sergeant  to    First  Ser 
geant  April  24,  1862  ;    to  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  E,  Sept.  14,  1862. 

9.     Smith,  John   B.,  — ,  mustered  Sept.  8,  1862,  to   Sixth  Army  Corps 
Hospital,  May  14,  1863. 

10.     Woodard,    Philo  B.,   — ,    mustered   Aug.  31,  1862,    to  Sixth  Army 
Corps  Hospital,  May  14,  1863. 

n.      Young,   Frank,  — ,   mustered  Aug.  31,  1862,  to   Sixth  Army  Corps 
Hospital,  May  31,  1863,  from  Elmira,  N.  Y. 

DIED,   AND    KILLED. 

1.  Burlison,  James  H.,  24,  Corporal,  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  June  27/62. 

2.  Baxter,  Wm.  H.,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;  killed  at  Games' Mill, 
June  27,  1862. 

3.  Davis,    Hiram,   — ,    mustered   July  8,    1861  ;    killed   at    Bull   Run, 
July  21,    1861. 

4.  Dunn,  James  A.,  — ,  mustered    Dec.  14,  1861  ;  died  Dec.  29,  1862. 

5.  Dunn,  John  N.,  — ,  mustered  Dec.  14    1861  ;  died  Aug.  27,  1862. 

6.  Darrow.  Andrew  J.,  21,  killed  at   battle  of  Crampton's  Pass,  Md., 
Sept.  14,  1862. 

7.  George,  William.  32,  Dec.  20,  1861. 

8.  Gould,  Henry  M.,  22,  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

9.  Headly,  Oscar, — ,  mustered  Dec.  14,  1861  ;  died  April  15,  1862. 

10.  Hunt,  George  S.,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861  ;    died  July  25,  1862. 

11.  Hunt,    Armenius    M.,   21,    taken   prisoner  at    Bull   Run  ;    died   in 
Richmond,   Sept.  13,  1861. 

12.  Lindsley,  William   F.,  21.  Aug.  20,  1862. 

13.  Miles,  Alexander,  — ,  mustered   Sept.  21,  1861  ;    killed  at   Gaines' 
Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

14.  Roberts,  John  N.,  — ,  mustered  Sept.  21,  1861  ;  died  Oct.  13,  1862. 

15.  Robinson,  Charles  W.,  21,  Scrgt.,  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  '62. 

16.  Rappel,  Eugene,  21,  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

17.  Wrood,  Nicholas  K.,  — ,  mustered  Dec.  14,  1861  ;  died  Feb.  18,  '62. 

18.  Webster    Daniel,  21,  died  Dec.  19,  1862. 

19.  Wright,  Frederick,  — ,  mustered  Sept.  21,  1861  ;  died  Dec.  27,  1861. 


ROSTER   OF   27TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOT,S.  28 1 

DESERTED. 

1.  Curry,  Edward,  19,  deserted  June  30,  1862. 

2.  Chattis,  Thomas,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  31,  1862,  deserted  Jan.  i,  '63. 

3.  Outcher,  John,  26,  deserted  Sept.  17,  1862. 

4.  Dutcher,  Charles,  21,  deserted  Sept.  17,  1862. 

5.  Fairchild,  Andrew, — ,  mustered  Dec.  14,  '61,  deserted  June  30/62. 

6.  Griffiths,  Elias,  20,  deserted  Aug.  28,  1862. 

7.  Lee,  Abram,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861,  deserted  Sept.  12,  1861. 

S.  Melrose,  Orlando,  — ,  mustered  Aug.  31,   1862,  desert.  Jan.  i,  '63. 

().  Smith,  Jacob  L.,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  1861,  deserted  Aug.  3,  1861. 

10.  Sutherland,  Oscar,  — ,  mustered  July  8,  '61,  deserted  Sept.  17,  '62. 

11.  Vosburg,  Emory  P., — ,  mustered  Oct.  25,  '61,  desert.  Aug.  30,  '62. 

DROPPED. 

1.  Hanna,  John  N.,  — ,  mustered  Nov.  i,  1861,  left  in  hospital  at  Al 
exandria,  Va.,  April  n,  1862. 

2.  Stamford,    Harmon    E.,  — ,  mustered    July  8,     1861,    wounded    at 
Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862  ;  has  not  been  heard  from  since. 


COMPANY  "H." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  Charles  E.  Martin,  41,  resigned  Feb.  10,  1862. 

2.  Joseph   H.    Bodine,   24,    promoted   from  First  Lieutenant  to  Cap 
tain,  Feb.  10,  1862,  to  Major  July  24,  1862. 

3.  William  H.  Swan,  44,  promoted  from  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  "B" 
July  24,  1862,  resigned  March  9,  1863. 

4.  Sherman   M.    Seely,   38,    mustered    May  6,    1861,    promoted    from 
First  Lieutenant  March  9,  1863. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Joseph  H.  Bodine,  24,  promoted  to  Captain  Feb.  10,  1862. 

2.  Sherman  M.  Seely,  38,  appointed  First  Lieutenant  April  25,  1862, 
from  a  Private  in  Sturgess'  Rifles. 

3.  Edward  C.  Camp,  19,  promoted  March  9,  1863,  from  2d  Lieutenant. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Oscar  Phillips,  41,  resigned  Aug.  14,  1861. 

2.  Edward  Williams,  21,  promoted  from  Sergeant,   Sept.  i,  1861,  re 
signed  Nov.  28,  1862. 

3.  Edward  C.  Camp,  19,  promoted  to  Sergeant  from  Private,  Sept.  i, 
1861,  to  Second  Lieutenant  Nov.  28,  1862,  to  First  Lieutenant  Mar.  9,  '63. 

4.  Harvey   R.    Clark,    22,   promoted  to   First   Sergeant   from    Private 
Nov.  28,  1862,  to  Second  Lieutenant  March  9,  1863. 


282  ROSTER    OF    2;TH    REGIMENT    N.  Y.  VOLS. 

SERGEANTS.       . 

1.  John    Kruhten,   22,    promoted   to  Corporal  Sept.  I,  1861,   to   First 
Sergeant  Nov.  28,  1862. 

2.  David   Summy,  18,   promoted   to    Corporal    Sept.    I,    1861,   to   Ser 
geant  Nov.  28,  1862. 

3.  Dwight,   Graham,   18,   mustered   Sept  21,    1861,   promoted  to  Cor 
poral  Sept.  15,  1862,  to  Sergeant  March  9,  1863. 

4.  Benjamin  H.  Tallman,   21,  promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  I,  1861,  to 
Sergeant  March  9,  1863. 

5.  Henry  Phillips,   21,   promoted   to  Corporal    Nov.  i,    1861,   to  Ser 
geant  March  9,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  James  Roberts,  32,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

2.  William    Briggs,    24,    promoted   Nov.   28,    1862,   taken  prisoner  at 
Bull  Run  July  21,  1861. 

3.  Daniel  D.  Stram,  24,  promoted  Nov.  28,  1862. 

4.  Adam  Miller,  23,  promoted  Nov.  28,  1862. 

5.  Albert  Young,  23,  promoted  Nov.  28,  1862. 

6.  Charles   L.  Seiffert,    18,   mustered    Aug.    20,    1861,  promoted  Nov. 
28,  1862. 

7.  George  Stout,  Jr.,  20,  promoted   March  9,  1863  ;  taken  prisoner  at 
Bull  Run  ;  leg  broken  while  a  prisoner. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Armstrong,  Selma,  18. 

2.  Ashton,  William  M.,  24. 

3.  Cady  George,  19. 

4.  Clancey  Michael,  18. 

5.  Coffrin,  George  H.,  20. 
f>.  Clark,  David  N.,  36. 

7.  Donahue,  James,  23,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

8.  Dunlava,  Anthony,  18,  mustered  Aug.  16,  1861. 

9.  Flynn,  Francis,  29. 

10.  Jones,  James  H.,  26. 

11.  Kemp,  Walter,  24. 

12.  Leddick,  Samuel,  33. 

13.  Martin,  Charles  A.,  20,  mustered  March  i,  1862. 

14.  Morgan,  Franklin  M.,  23. 

15.  Magee,  Marvin,  20. 

16.  McCormick,  Michael,  19. 

17.  Miller,  John,  18,  mustered  Aug.  16,  1861. 

18.  McNeilly,  Thomas,  21,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

19.  McNeilly,  Robert,  18. 

20.  McCarthy,  Denis,  21,  mustered  Sept  21,  1861. 

21.  McGalpin,  Thaddeus  L.,  19,  mustered  March  i,  1862. 

22.  McArthur,  Henry,  18. 

23.  Rathburn,  Artemas  M.,  40. 

24.  Ryan,  Thomas,  18. 


ROSTER   OF   27TH    REGIMENT    N.  Y.  VOLS.  283 

r  R  I  v  ATES —  Con  tin  ucd. 

2$.  Rulapaugh,  John  W.,  22,  mustered  Sept.  21,  1861. 

26.  Skelly,  John.  18,  mustered  Aug.  22,  1861. 

27.  Sheppard,  Joseph  A.,  18,  mustered  Aug.  23,  1861. 

28.  Talbert,  Richard,  28. 

29.  Wheelock,  Charles  H.,  18,  mustered  Aug.  30,  1861. 

30.  Willis,  Lafayette  C.,  25. 

31.  Welch,  William,  44,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run. 

32.  Williams,    Henry,  22. 

DISCHARGED   FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Aplin,  William  W.,  44,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861  ; 
discharged  Feb.  18,  1863. 

2.  Bingham,  George  W.,  20,  Corporal,  discharged  June  15,  1862. 

3.  Barney,  George  W.,  18,  Musician,  discharged  Dec.  i,  1861. 

4.  Cathrell,  Abiathar  V.,  39,  discharged  June  2,  1862. 

5.  Dunn,  John,  19,  discharged  June  5,  1862. 

6.  Edsall,  David  A.,  19,  discharged  Aug.  10,  1861. 

7.  Fraser,  William  H.,  transferred  from  Co.  "A,"  Nov.  i,  1861;  dis 
charged   Dec.  29,  1862. 

8.  Hellikee,  George,  35,  discharged  Feb.  7,  1863. 

9.  Hosmer,  Edward,  24,  discharged   Oct.  16,  1861. 

10.  Howden,    Alexander,   21,    mustered    March   26,    1862  ;    discharged 
Oct.  14,  1862. 

u.  Hammond,  Reuben,  23,  mustered  April  i,  1862;  disch.  Dec.  17,  '62. 

12.  Hunt,  Charles  H.,  20,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run;  dis.  Apr.  26,  '62. 

13.  Kellogg,  John  J.,  39,  Oct.  31,  1862. 

14.  Nichols,  John  M.,  23,  Oct.  14,  1862. 

15.  Parker,  Ebenezer  R.,  21,  Sergeant,  discharged  from  hospital  on  ac 
count  of  wounds  received  in  battle. 

16.  Roy,  Simon,  29,  Corporal,  discharged  Feb.  18,  1863. 

17.  Scribner,  James  J.,  19,  mustered  Jan.  13,  1862;   disch.  Sept.  19,  '62. 

18.  Wightman,  Samuel,  43,  July  i,  1862. 

19.  White,  Jesse  D.,  19,  mustered  March  3,  1862  ;  disch.  Oct.  25,  1862. 

20.  Wilson,  James  W.,  32,  April  10,  1862. 

21.  William  B.  Robertson. 

DIED,  AND   KILLED. 

1.  Bcggs,  John,   24,  First  Sergeant,    killed   in   battle   of   Crampton's 
Pass,    Sept.  14,  1862. 

2.  Chilson,  William  H.,  21,  mustered  Jan.  13,  1862  ;    died  June  29, 
1862,  from  wounds  received  in  battle  of  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

3.  Caughlin.  Jeremiah,  20,  mustered  Sept.  21,  1861  ;  died  May  19,  '62. 

4.  Driskscom,  James,  21,  died  June  29,  1862,  from  wounds  received 
at  Gaines'  Mill. 

5.  Garrett,  William,  42,  Jan.  24,  1862. 

6.  Griffith,  Willis,  21,  Corporal,  died  Dec.  24,  1862. 

7.  Johnson,  Joseph  R.,  Jr.,  20,  wounded  and  taken   prisoner  at  Bull 
Run  ;   died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  Aug.  22,  1861. 


284  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

DIED,  AND  KILLED — Continued. 

8.     Lockwood,    Henry,   22,   mustered   March  28,   1862  ;   killed  in  \he 
battle  of  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

g.     Shannon,  Robert,  22,  died  March  6,  1862. 
10.     Sullivan,  Florence,  22,  killed  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Abrams,  William  H.,  19,  deserted  Aug.  7,  1861. 

2.  Busk,  Richard,  30,  deserted  July  18,  1861. 

3.  Bush,  Zimri,  23,  deserted  Aug.  8,  1861. 

4.  Boyd,  Harlan,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861  ;  de 
serted  Feb.  12,  1862. 

5.  Drue,  Jerome,  28,  deserted  Aug.  14,  1861. 

6.  Fitch,  William,  23,  deserted  Aug.  8,  1861. 

7.  Hanna,  Joseph  M.,  19,  Corporal,  deserted  Aug.  14,  1861. 

8.  Havens,  John  R.,  22,  deserted  August  3,  1861. 

9.  Jones,  Jonathan  W.,  21,  mustered  March  13,  1862  ;  deserted  Sept. 
13,  1862. 

10.  Lockwood,  Martin,  26,  mustered  April  i,  '62  ;  deserted  May  i,  '62. 

n.  Magee,  Philander,  21,  deserted  Nov.  5,  1861. 

12.  Murdock,  John,  31,  deserted  Aug,  29,  1862. 

13.  Odell,  Orrin,  22  ;  discharged  Aug.  n,  1861. 

14.  Palmer,  Charles,  28,  deserted  Aug.  n,  1861. 

15.  Pendergrass,  John,  23,  deserted  Aug.  7,  1861. 

16.  Reynolds,  Merriam  J.,  19,  Aug.  14,  1861. 

17.  Reynolds,  Lyman,  24,  deserted  May  7.  1862. 

18.  Rodgers,  Edmund  D.,  deserted  June  18,  1862. 

DROPPED. 

1.  Robertson,  William  B.,  19,  Jan.  i,  1863,  Gen.  Order  162,  A.  of  P. 
Was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  battle  of  Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 
Leg  amputated.     Repoited  Jan.  28,  1864,  at  Elmira,  for  muster  out  and 
discharge. 

2.  Staples,  Squire,  21,  mustered  March  10,  1862  ;  dropped  Jan.  i,  '61, 
Gen.  Order  162,  A.  of  P. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  Horton,  James  D.,  21,  Corporal,  mustered  March  19,  1862;  to  Sixth 
Army  Corps,  to  finish  term  of  enlistment,  June,  1863. 

2.  Lockwood,  Joseph  W.,   22,   mustered  March  27,    1862  ;   to    Sixth 
Army  Corps,  to  finish  term  of  enlistment,  June,  1863. 

3.  Nimbs,  William  M.,  20,  Sergeant,   promoted  to   First  Lieutenant 
of  Co.  "D,"  Oct.  ii,  1862. 

4.  O'Regan,  Timothy,  18,   mustered  March  4,  1862  ;    to  Sixth  Army 
Corps,  to  finish  term  of  enlistment,  June,  1863. 

5.  Tanner,   Albert  S.,  22,  mustered  March   10,  1862,    to  Sixth  Army 
Corps,  to  finish  term  of  enlistment,  June,  1863. 


ROSTER   OF  27TH    REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS.  285 

COMPANY   "1." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  Curtiss  C.  Gardiner,  39,  promoted   to  Major,  Sept.  I,  1861. 

2.  Samuel  M.  Harmon,  29,   promoted  from  First  Lieutenant  to  Cap 
tain,  Sept.  i,  1861,  resigned  Sept.  26,  1862. 

3.  Burton   Freeman,  33,  promoted  from   Sergeant  to  First  Sergeant, 
July  21,   1861,   to  Second  Lieutenant  Sept.  i,  1861,  to  First  Lieutenant, 
Feb.  6,   1862,  to  Captain  Sept.  26,  1862  ;  was  Color  Sergeant  in  battle  of 
Bull  Run. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Samuel  M.  Harmon,  29.     Promoted. 

2.  Davis  C.  Hartshorn,  29,  promoted  from  First  Sergeant  to  Second 
Lieut.  Aug.  i,  1861,  to  First  Lieut.  Sept.  i,  1861,  resigned  Feb.  6,  1862. 

3.  Burton  Freeman,  33.     Promoted. 

4.  Texas  Angel,  21,  promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant  July  i,  1861, 
to   Second   Lieutenant   Feb.  6,  1862,  to    First  Lieutenant   Sept.  26,    1862  ; 
Regimental  Quartermaster  after  Nov.  22,  1862. 

5.  Darwin  Maltby,   21,  promoted  to   Corporal   July  21,  1861,  to  First 
Sergeant  March  i,  1862,   to  Second   Lieutenant   Sept.    26,    1862,   to   First 
Lieutenant  November  22,  1862. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Charles  D.  Rice,  23,  resigned  Aug.  i,  1861. 

2.  Davis  C.  Hartshorn,  29.      Promoted. 

3.  Burton  Freeman,  33.     Promoted. 

4.  Texas  Angel,  21.      Promoted. 

5.  Darwin  Maltby,  21.      Promoted. 

6.  Willis  T-  Kendall,  20,  promoted  from  Corporal  to  Sergeant  July  21, 
1861,  to  Second  Lieutenant  Nov.  22,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Delos  \V.  Cornell,  30,   promoted  from  Corporal  to  Sergeant  July 
21,  1861,  to  First  Sergeant  April  16,  1862. 

2.  Romulus   D.  Dennison,    34,   mustered  July  5,   1861,   promoted  to 
Corporal  July  21,  1861,  to  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  1861. 

3.  Allan   A.    McDonald,   23,  promoted   to   Corporal    Sept.  i,  1861,  to 
Sergeant  Sept.  26    1862. 

4.  Philander  Ellithorp,  20,  promoted  to  Corporal  March,  15,  1862,  to 
Sergeant  March  i,  1863. 

5.  William  Seaver,  21,  promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  1862,  to  Ser 
geant  March  i,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Henry  Heinneman,  26,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

2.  Joseph  B.  Howe,  21,  mustered  July  5,  '61,  promoted  Sept.  26,  '62. 

3.  David  Wafler,  Jr.,  20,  promoted  March  i,  1863. 

4.  Frank  H.  Gardiner,  22,  mustered  June  16,  1861,  promoted  March 
i,  1863. 

5.  John  W.  Stanton,  22,  mustered  July  5,  '61,  promoted  March  i,  '63. 


286  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

CORPORALS. — Continued. 

6.  Christian  Hornberg,  19,  promoted  March  i,  1863. 

7.  Silas  S.  Seeley,  19,  musteied  Sept.  20,  '61,  promoted  March  I,  '63. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Bullock,  George  H.,  25,  mustered  Julys,  1861. 

2.  Bryne,  Edward  A.,  22,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

3.  Burdick,  Melvin  A.,  36,  mustered  Aug.  31,  1861  ;  detailed  on  Sig 
nal  Service  Dec.  26,  1861  ;  date  of  discharge  not  known. 

4.  Button,  Louis  D.,  22,  reduced  to  ranks  from  Sergeant  April  16/62. 

5.  Burnham,  George  C.,  15. 

6.  Burt,  Charles  M.,  18. 

7.  Berry,  Charles  W.,    23,  mustered   July  5,  1861  ;  taken   prisoner  at 
Bull  Run  July  21,  1861. 

8.  Burlingame,  Henry,  21,  taken  prisoner  at  Battle  of  Games'  Mill  ; 
dropped  from  the  rolls  ;  returned  May  27,  1863. 

9.  Charles,  Timothy  C.,  23. 
10.     Carpenter,  Robert,  28. 
IT.     Cilley,  Henry  D.,  32. 

12.  Coats,  Alfred,  18. 

13.  Coon,  Sebeus  B.,  26. 

14.  Cranston,   Stillman,  21. 

15.  Champlin,  Albert  B.,  mustered  July  5  1861. 

16.  Clark,  Franklin   D.,  21,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;  taken  prisoner  at 
Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861  ;  reported  to  his  Co.  March  31,  1863. 

17.  Dake,  Albert  J.,  21. 

18.  Dunn,  James,  22. 

19.  Fox,  Peter,  37,  mustered  Aug.  31,  1861. 

20.  Heers,  Christopher,  22. 

21.  Heald,  John  R.,  18. 

22.  Hultz,  Rawson  B.,  20,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

23.  Huntly,  Edwin,  21,  mustered  July  5,   1861. 

24.  Hall,  Randall  L.,  18,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861. 

25.  Hooper,  Isaac   M.(  21,  reduced  to  ranks  from  Corporal.     On  de 
tached  service  till  May  18,  1863. 

26.  Hurley,  Dennis,  21,  mustered  Aug.  31,  1861. 

27  Hurlbert,  Alson,  22,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861.  Absent  without 
leave  from  Sept.  6,  1862,  to  April  27,  1863  ;  returned  to  duty  under  Pres 
ident's  proclamation. 

28.  Lane,  Lester,  21. 

29.  Lewis,  William  H.,  21,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

30.  McDonald,  John,  24. 

31.  McDonald,  William,  26. 

32.  McDonald,  Patrick,  21,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861. 

33.  McMane,  James,  21,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861. 

34.  Mapes,  Charles,  23. 

35.  Macken,  Valletia,  17,  mustered  Aug.  31,  1861. 

36.  Merrill,  Thomas  R.,  18,  mustered  Jan.  16,  1862. 


ROSTER   OF   2?TH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  VOLS.  287 

PRIVATES —  Continued. 

37.  Powers,  Lawrence,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

38.  Ouigley,  Winfield,  19,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

39.  Rogers,  Orin  C.,  20,  mustered  Aug.  31,  1861. 

40.  Reading,  Jeremiah  K.,  24,  mustered   July  5,  1861  ;  taken  prisoner 
at   Bull  Bun,  July  21,  1861. 

41.  Smith,  David,  21. 

42.  Tufts,  Winfield,  18. 

43.  Utter,  George  L.,  21. 

44.  VanNostrand,  Everett,  21. 

45.  Van  Gorder,  John,  21. 

46.  Weaver,  Jacob  D.,  18,  returned  from  absent,  sick,  April  16,  1862. 

47.  Wright,  Aaron  H.,  28. 

48.  Weymer,  Daniel  G. ,  22. 

49.  Worthington,  Ira  C.,  19. 

DISCHARGED  FOR  DISABILITY. 

1.  Ames,  Ira,  24,  Feb.  n,  1863. 

2.  Benjamin,  Romain,  20,  Aug.  9,  1862. 

3.  Bingham,  Justin,  45,  March  18,  1862.      "Old  Mexico." 

4.  Baxter,  Daniel  B.,45,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861;  disch.  March,  1863. 

5.  Carpenter,  David  D.,  26,  Aug.  9,  1861. 

6.  Crandall,  John  H.,  19,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;    taken  prisoner   at 
Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861  ;  discharged  Sept.  5,  1861. 

7.  Chamberlain,  Wilber  S  ,  18,  mustered  Julys,  1861;  disch.  Sept., '62. 

8.  Estabrook,  George  L.,  21,  Aug.  9,  1861. 

9.  Jaques,  Warren  W.,  26,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861;  disch.  Sept.,  1862. 
10.     Jaques,  Lafayette,  19,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861  ;  disch.  Sept.,  1862. 
n.     Lewis,  Clinton  R.,  22,  Sept.  5,  1861. 

12.  Lewis,  Amos  C.,  22,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861  ;  disch.  Feb.,  1863. 

13.  Lewis,  Henry  D.,  19,  February,  1863. 

14.  Metzcer,  John,  32,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July 
21,  1861  ;  never  returned  to  regiment. 

15.  Oliver,  Judson  S.,  18,  taken   prisoner  at   Bull    Run,  July  21,  1861  ; 
supposed  to  have  been  discharged.     No  record. 

16.  Ogden,  John,  24,  supposed  to  have  been  discharged.     No  record. 

17.  Robinson,  John,  40,  September,  1862. 

18.  Snow,  Harvey  C.,  22,  Corporal,  Aug.  19,  1861. 

19.  Van  Horn,  Nicholas  H.,  21,  Feb.  u,  1863. 

20.  Wellman,  Jonas  G.,  23,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run, 
July  21,  1861  ;  leg  amputated  ;  discharged  Dec.  15,  1862. 

21.  Woodruff,  Charles  A.,  21,  from  General   Hospital — no  date  given. 

22.  White,  Joseph  B.,  21,  Sept.  29,  1861. 

23.  Wilson,  Charles  J.,  30,  Aug.  9,  1861. 

24.  Waters,  George,  24,  Aug.  9,  1861. 


288  ROSTER  OF  2;TH   REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS, 

DIED,  AND  KILLED. 

1.  Bliss,William  B.,  Sergeant,  23,  died  at  Savage  Station,  June  29,  '62, 

2.  Bishop,  John  W.,  23,  mustered  July  5,  1861  ;    taken   prisoner  at 
Bull    Run,  July  21,  1861  ;  died  in  Richmond. 

3.  Babbitt,  Albert,  26,  killed  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  I36t. 

4.  Collier,  Thomas,  21,  died  Oct.  28,  1862. 

5.  Ferrin,  Eugene,  23,  killed  at  battle  of  Bull   Run,  July  21,  1861. 

6.  Haver,  Wilber,  21,   Corporal,  killed  at  battle  of   Fredericksburg, 
May  3,  1863. 

7.  Hobart,  Stanley,  32,  died  Dec.  3,  1862. 

8.  Hobart,  Charles  J.,    19,  mustered  July  5,  1861,  died  Nov.  29,  1862, 
of  wounds  received  in  battle  of  Crampton's  Pass,  Sept.  14,  1862. 

9.  Hibbard,  Enoch,  34,  died  July  I,  1862. 
10.     Kidder,  Henry  D.,  29,  died  July  22,  1861. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Adams,  Frank  O.,  22,  mustered  July  5,  '61,  deserted   Aug.  7,  '61. 

2.  Engle,  George  W.,  20,  deserted  Aug.  4,  1861. 

3.  Franklin,  Ashley  L.,  19,  deserted  April  17,  1862. 

4.  Gillman,  Calvin  B.,  22,  deserted  Aug.  7,  1861. 

5.  Kidder,  William  B.,  25,  deserted  Aug.  7,  1861. 

6.  Rice,  Robert,  24.  deserted  Aug.  4,  1861. 

7.  Strong,  Frank,  19,  mustered  Sept.  20,  1861,  deserted  Feb.  20,  1862. 

8.  Spencer,  Alfred  W.,  21,  deserted  Sept.  15,  1862. 

DROPPED. 

i.     Andrews,  James  O.,  26,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run, 
July  21,  1861  ;  never  returned  to  regiment. 


COMPANY  "K." 

CAPTAINS. 

1.  Henry  L.  Achilles,  26,  resigned   June  9,  1862,  on  account  of  disa 
bility. 

2.  Seymour  Pierce,  22,  promoted  to  Captain  June  9,  1862  ;  detached 
on  Signal  Service. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  William  H.  Coan,  22,  died  September  u,  1862. 

2.  George  S.  Gaskill,  20,  promoted  from  Corporal  to  Sergeant  Sept.  i, 

1861,  to   Second   Lieutenant  July  10,  1862,  to   First  Lieutenant  Sept.  6, 

1862,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Company. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

1.  Henry   H.  Hanington,  22,  resigned  July  10,   1862,  on  account  of 
disability. 

2.  William  H.  McMahon,  25,  promoted  to   Second  Lieutenant,  from 
Co.  "G."  Sept.  6,  1862. 


ROSTER  OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS.  289 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Henry  B.  Barnard,  23,  promoted   from   Sergeant  to   First  Sergeant 
Sept.  i,   1861. 

2.  James  Kennelly,  23,  promoted   to  Corporal   Aug.  15,  1861,  to  Ser 
geant  Sept.  i,  1861. 

3.  Ami  Whitney,  22,  promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  i,  1861,  to  Sergeant 
Dec.  i,  1862. 

4.  John   Ball,   21,    promoted  to  Corporal   March  i,  1861,  to  Sergeant 
Dec.  i,  1862. 

5.  John  F.   Stewart,   23,  promoted  to  Corporal   Sept.  i,  1862,  to  Ser 
geant  Dec.  i,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Frank  S.  Hayden,  20. 

2.  Aretus  H.  Allen,  25. 

3.  Charles  W.  Sickles,  21,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

4.  William  White,  20,  promoted  Sept.  i,  1861. 

5.  John  Bannister,  22,  promoted  Dec.  T,  1862. 

6.  Martin  G.  Wood,  22,  promoted  Dec.  i,  1862. 

7.  Orson   T.  Jewett,   20,  taken   prisoner  at  battle  of  Bull   Run,    July 
21,  1861  ;  promoted  Dec.  i,  1862. 

8.  Henry  T.  Latimer,  — ,  mustered  July  15,  '61  ;  promoted  Dec.  i,  '62. 

MUSICIANS. 

i.     Lewis  M.  Clifford,  20. 

PRIVATES. 

1.  Ashley,  George  A.,  18. 

2.  AtwelL  Freeman  J.,  28. 

3.  Ashby,  Charles,  39,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861. 

4.  Barber,  Charles,  22. 

5.  Beach,  Orrin  D.,  21,  returned  from  absent  sick,  May  18,  1863. 

6.  Beardsley,  George,  19. 

7.  Bishop,  Jacob  H.,  28. 

8.  Blackwell,  George  W.,  19,  mustered  July  15,  1861,   returned  from 
absent  sick,  May  18,  1863. 

9.  Bowman,  William,  18,  mustered  July  5,  1861. 

10.  Barnes,  Parrish,  18,  mustered  Sept.  5.  1861. 

11.  Blanchard,  Orrin  D.,  19. 

12.  Brignall,  John,  27. 

13.  Chapman,  Galusha,  24. 

14.  Clement,  Lewis,  32. 

15.  Cook,  Joseph,  19. 

16.  Dwinnell,  Charles,   28,  taken  prisoner  at  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July 
21,  1861. 

17.  Doane,  Oscar,  21. 

18.  Dorrance,  Joseph,  35. 

19.  Eggleston,  Seneca,  18. 


2QO  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

PR  I  v  ATES. — Continued. 

20.  Fowler,  John  C.,  22,  taken  prisoner  at  battle  Bull  Run,  July  2i,Y>i. 

21.  Gaylor,  Frederick  F.,  25. 

22.  Harris,  Isaac,  23. 

23.  Hart,  Charles,  21. 

24.  Hanson,  William  J.  C..,  23. 

25.  Henry,  Harrison,  22. 

26.  Howard,  Charles,  18,  mustered  July  15,  1861. 

27.  Hunt,  Alvin  G.,  18.,  mustered  July  15,  1861, 

28.  Harris,  James,  19,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861. 

29.  Hobbs,  Ira;  20,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861. 

30.  Hall,   John,   24,  mustered  July   15,  1861,  absent  sick   in  hospital, 
returned  to  Co.  May  18,  1863. 

31.  Harding,  Horace  J.,  21. 

32.  Johnson,  Andrew  H.,  23. 

33.  Johnson,  William,  22. 

34.  Jones,  Edward  D.  C.,  20,  mustered  July  15,  1861. 

35.  Kingman,  Albert  E.,  18. 

36.  Kincade,  Eugene  C.,  22. 

37.  King,  Charles,  20,   mustered  July  15,  1861. 

38.  Lawrence,  George,  22. 

39.  Lake,  William,  23,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861. 

40.  Mallory,  William  H.  H.,  20 

41.  Mudge,  Volney,  19,  taken  prisoner  at  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

42.  Moore,  Orra  H.,  20,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861. 

43.  Nash,  Charles,  19. 

44.  Paul,  James,  21,  mustered  July  15,  1861. 

45.  Pinney,  Edward  F.,  22,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861. 

46.  Simmons,  John  M.,  20. 

47.  Sackett,  Hiram,  18. 

48.  Tucker,  Henry  C.,  20,  mustered  July  15,  1861. 

49.  Tucker,    Jacob,   18.   taken  prisoner   at  Bull   Run,  July   21,    1861  ; 
transferred  from  Co.  "A"  June  20,  1861. 

50.  Viele,  Philip,  38. 

51.  Van  Dresser,    Henry    L.,  23,    taken    prisoner   at    Bull    Run,  July 
21,  1861. 

52.  Wilson,  Nathan  M.,  23. 

53.  Wells,    Henry  S.,   23,  mustered  July   15,    1861,    taken  prisoner   at 
Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY. 

1.  Allins,  Albert,  25,  August  7,  1861. 

2.  Avery,  Francis  G.,  22,  March  31,  1862. 

3.  Aplin,  Briggs,  19,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861  ;   discharged  Oct.  9,  1862. 

4.  Clift,  Amos,  Jr.,  22,  March  16,  1862. 

5.  Doty,  Walter,  22,  July  i,  1861. 

6.  Dalton,  Martin,  26,  Oct.  3,  1861. 


ROSTER  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS.     29! 

DISCHARGED    FOR    DISABILITY — Continued. 

7.  Dorrance,  William,  20,  Jan.  15,  1863. 

8.  Durkee,  Oscar,  23,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861;   disrh.  April  4,  1862. 

9.  Eastman,  Charles  B.,  24,  Aug.  7.  1861. 
10.  Howard,  John  D.,  21,  Dec.  2,  1862. 
n.  King,  John  E.,  40,  Dec.  12,  1862. 

12.  McElroy,  Michael,  20,  Aug.  14,  1861. 

13.  McPherson,  John,  23,  Aug.  14,  1861. 

14.  Mudge,  Jay   L.,  18,   taken   prisoner  at    Bull    Run,  July  21,  1861  ; 
discharged  Jan.  9,  '63. 

15.  Peterson,  Frederick  H.,  18,  mustered  July  15  ;    disch.  Nov.  6,  1862. 

16.  Towsley,   Rathburn  C.,  25,  Corporal,  mustered  Sept.  5,  1861;    dis 
charged  Dec.  25,  1861. 

17.  Wells,  James  E.,  19,  discharged  Oct.  9,  1862. 

DIED,  AND  KILLED. 

1.  Bowen,  James,  22,  Sergeant,  Sept.  u,  1861. 

2.  Cook,    Dwight,   24,    Corporal,    killed   in   battle  of  Bull  Run,  July 
21,  1861. 

3.  Curtis,  Delos,  35,  mustered  July  15,  1861,  died  of  wounds  received 
in  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

4.  Edwin,  Eddy,  23,  Sergeant,  killed  in  the  battle  of  Bull    Run,  July 
21,  1861. 

5.  Kellogg,   Albertus,  19,  mustered  July  15,  1861,  killed  in  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

6.  King,  Henry  J.,  27,  killed  Aug.  20,  1861,  by  being  thrown  from  a 
horse,  in  Washington. 

7.  Larwood,  Andrew,    18,  mustered  Dec.    17,  1861,  killed   in  battle  of 
Games'  Mill,  June  27,  1862. 

8.  Murphy,  Clinton,  26,  Corporal,  died  April  12,  1862. 

9.  McKenzie     Peter,  26,   mustered  July  15,  1861,   killed   at  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  July  21.  1861. 

10.  Mason,  George  K.,  28,  died  Jan.  19,  1863. 

11.  Nash,  William   H.,  20,  died   in   hospital  at  Washington,   date  not 
given. 

12.  Rowley,  Oliver  G.,  18,  died  May  25,  1862. 

13.  Squires,  Edson,  20,  mustered  Dec.  17,  1861  ;  run  over  by  the  cars, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  May  16,  1862,  died  from  injuries  May  17. 

14.  Tibbits,  Charles  W.,  22,  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  ; 
shot  and  killed  by  a  rebel  sentry  while  a  prisoner  in  Richmond,  Nov.  12,  1861. 

15.  Thornton,  Hira   H.,  18,  killed   in  the  battle  of  Games'  Mill,  June 

27,  1862. 

DESERTED. 

1.  Humphrey,  Carloss,  22,  deserted  Aug.  4,  1861. 

2.  Murdock,  William,  21,  deserted  Aug.  4,  1861. 

3.  Sawyer,  Charles  W.,  22,  Sergeant,  deserted  Aug.  i,  1862. 


92  ROSTER   OF   2;TH   REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 

TRANSFERRED. 

1.  Hodgman,  Clinton  E.,  22,  Sergeant,  Oct.  4,  1861,  by  promotion  to 
Co.  "E," 

2.  Newell,  Daniel   P.,  22,  mustered  Aug.  2,  1861,  discharged  Dec.  j, 
1862,  by  promotion  to  Commissary  Sergeant. 

3.  Steel,  Lawrence  J.,  20,  July  5th,  1861,  to  Company  "G." 

4.  Vickars,  William,  18,   mustered   Sept.  5,  1861,   transferred  to   Bat 
tery  "  D,"  Second   U.  S.  Artillery,  Regulars,  Feb.  15,  1863. 


SXA/TKMKNT, 

SHOWING  WHOLE  NUMBER   OK  OFFICERS   AND   ENLISTED   MEN   OF   THE 

TWENTY-SEVENTH    REGIMENT,   NEW   YORK   VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY, 

MUSTERED    INTO    THE   UNITED   STATES'   SERVICE    DURING   ITS 

TERM  OF  SERVICE,  FROM  MAY  21,  1861,  TO  MAY  31,  1863. 

OFFICERS. 

Mustered  into  United  States'  Service  with  Regiment,  May  21,  1861..  37 

Appointed  from  civil  life 7 

Appointed  from  enlisted  men  of  regiment 51 

95 

Promoted  out  of  regiment — Slocum,  Bartlett,  Rodgers 3 

Resigned 36 

Discharged  for  disability 5 

Died  of  disease — Gaul,  Coan 2 

Died  of  wounds — Webster I 

Killed  in  battle — Park ' I 

Discharged  by  order — Goodrich,  Dickson,  Kirby,  McKay 4 

Mustered  out  by  general  order — musicians 2 

Mustered  out  with  regiment,  May  31,  1863 41 

95 


294  ROSTER   OF   2/TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS, 


The  following  tabulated  statement  is  made  from  the  muster-out 
of  the  regiment  : 


rolls 


O 
c 
3 
•p 
P 
a 

Mustered  out  May 
31.  1863  

Died. 

Disch'd. 

Deserted  

Transf'd. 

O 

0 
*O 

| 

D. 

5 

Promoted  to  Com 
missioned  officer. 

o 
SL 

M 

3 
0_ 

(I 

3 

IOI 

"4 

~  5 

o'  E: 

?a 

•   3' 

•   P 

;     o 

Wounds.  . 

Disease.  . 

Accident.. 

Wounds  . 

Disability. 

To  other  Com-!  ^ 
panics  

ITo  other  Com 
mands  

! 

• 

2 

19 

A  

_!L 

63 

64 

I 

i 

4 

4 

8 

7 

o 

12 

5 

B 

1 
5 

18 

7 

5 

6 

C  

3 

22 

10 

i 

4 

4 

120 

D    

62 

6 

2 

4 

32 

6 

i 

2 

8 

123 

E      .    . 

?6 

3 

6 
r  i 
Ji 

6 

19 
17 

15 

2 

i 

i 

109 

F 

50 

3 

6 

M 

5 

2 

3 

109 

G    

49 

8 

5 

22 

ii 

3 

6 

6 

123 

H      .... 

44 
61 

3 

3 

4 



2 

2O 
23 

18 

4 

I 

5 

104 

I 

3 

3 

4 

I 

8 

0 

i 

I 

5 

3 

109 
108 

K 

67 

8 

6 

I 

17 

2 

Field  and 
Staff*.. 

Officers.. 





12 

i 

2 

33 

Totals..  . 

566 

42 

M 

67 

3 

25 

209    i    104 

9 

M 

25 

46 

1165 

Less  those  duplicated  by  transfer  and  promotion 10 

Total  No.  enrolled,  not  including  the  band  (20  pieces,) 1155 

*  Other  than  those  promoted  from  the  Companies, 


DEATH    CASUALTIES.  295 


REMARKS. — The  above  table  does  not  show  all  of  the  actual  casualties 
to  the  enlisted  men.  For  example,  the  column  of  "  discharged  "  is  known 
to  include  many  who  had  been  wounded  and  sent  to  hospitals;  and  like 
wise  many  who  had  been  prisoners,  and  returned  incapacitated  for  duty. 
Again,  the  column  of  "died"  is  known  to  include  some  who  had  been 
wounded,  and  sent  to  hospitals.  Again,  the  column  of  "dropped"  in 
cludes  some  who  were  taken  prisoners,  and  never  afterwards  heard  from. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  is  no  record  of  those  who  lost  a  leg  or  an 
arm,  or  were  otherwise  permanently  disabled. 

The  above  statement  of  officers  and  enlisted  men  does  not  include 
Alex.  Scott's  Cornet  Hand  of  twenty  men,  who  were  a  part  of  the  regi 
ment  for  about  one  year,  and  who  will  ever  be  remembered  with  soldierly 
regard  by  all  comrades. 

In  regard  to  the  deserters,  many  served  honorably  in  other  commands, 
afterwards.  Not  a  few  so  marked  left  the  regiment  to  enlist  with  relatives 
or  friends  in  other  organizations,  where  associations  were  more  congenial 
or  chances  of  promotion  better  ;  and  quite  a  number  were  men  who  had 
been  taken  prisoners,  and  never  returned. 


296 


ROSTER  OF  27TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLS. 


The  following  is  the  very  latest  information  from  the  War  Department, 
relative  to  the  death  casualties  in  the  2yth   Regiment  New  York  Infantry  : 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT  N.Y.Voi,s. 

Officers. 

Men. 

Total. 

Killed  in  action,  or  died  from  battle  wounds.. 

2 

72 

74 

Died  of  disease               .... 

2 

1:7 

CQ 

Accidental   deaths 

2 

2 

Causes  not  stated  

1  1 

I  I 

Aggregate  

4 

142 

I46 

It  will  be  noted  that  this  table  differs  from  the  former,  it  having  since 
been  found  that  some  who  were  reported  on  the  roll  as  dropped,  were 
either  killed,  or  died  of  wounds  or  disease.  Owing  to  the  defective  char 
acter  of  the  regimental  records  on  file  in  the  War  Department,  it  is  impos 
sible  to  determine  with  absolute  accuracy  the  losses  sustained  ;  and  the 
above  computations  must  be  regarded  as  only  approximative. 


DEATH    CASUALTIES. 


297 


LOSSES   IN    BARTLETT'S   BRIGADE. 

The  following  table  of    figures,   on   casualties  in   action,   is  from  the 
official   publications  of  the  War   Department: 

SEVEN    DAYS'  BATTLES,   INCLUDING   GAINES'  MILL. 


REGIMENTS. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Fifth  Maine.        9  49 

Sixteenth  New  York 40  181 

Twenty-Seventh  New  York 12  118 

Ninety-Sixth  Pennsylvania. [  13  61 

Total 74  409 

CRAMPTON'S    PASS,  MD. 

Fifth  Maine 4  28 

Sixteenth  New  York 31  70 

Twenty-Seventh  New  York . . .  I  6  27 

Ninety-Sixth  Pennsylvania   .      \  20  71 

Total 61  196 

Total  loss  of  the  army  at  Crampton's  Pass]  113       |         418 

ANTIETAM,  MD. 

Fifih  Maine.     o  5 

Sixteenth  New  York i  2 

Twenty-Seventh  New  York o  o 

Ninety-Sixth  Pennsylvania I  i 

Total 2 

SECOND    FREDERICKSBURG. 

Fifth  Maine n  58 

Sixteenth  New  York ...  33  70 

Twenty-Seventh  New  York        3  13 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-First  N.  Y.  .  48  173 

Ninety-Sixth  Pennsylvania 16  54 

Total in  368 


Missing. 


13 
68 


27 
49 

3 
55 

9 

143 


298 


ROSTER   OF   2?TH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  VOLS. 


LOSSES  IN  TWENTY-ONE  OF  THE 

IMENTS." 


TWO  YEARS'  REG- 


Killed  and 

Died    of    dis 

H 
o 

died 

ease,  accident, 

E 

DATE    OF 

of  Wounds. 

in  prison,  etc. 

a 

REGIMENT. 

Q 

w 

H 

O 

w 

H 

MUSTER. 

O 

^  3 

"I 

o 

E 

i 

0 

n 

3| 

o 

E 

in 

p 

.    a. 

• 

•      Q. 

May    7,  1861 

i,  National  Guards     .  .  . 

0 

88 

88 

3 

33 

36 

124 

"      21,       " 

2,  Troy  Rifles  

I 

24 

25 

0 

23 

23 

48 

"     14. 

3,  Veterans.     .  .    

I 

25 

26 

2 

64 

66        92 

"      9- 

4,  Scott's  Life  Guards  .  .  . 

2 

60 

62 

1 

23 

24  |     86 

9, 

5,  Duryea  Zouaves  .    .  . 

6 

183 

189 

0 

31 

31      220 

"     25, 

6,  Wilson  Zouaves  

0 

13 

13 

0 

34 

34        47 

Apr.  23, 

7,  Steuben  Regiment  ...     14 

88 

IO2 

I 

46 

47      149 

"    23, 

8,  German  Rifles  o 

89 

89 

I 

41 

42 

131 

May    4, 

9,  Hawkins  Zouaves   .  . 

2 

74 

76 

2 

25 

27 

103 

Apr.  20, 

n,  Ellsworth  Zouaves.  .  . 

3 

48 

51 

3 

T2 

15        66 

May  13,     " 

12,  Independence  Guards 

6  1 

64 

i 

59 

60      124 

"    M»     " 

13,  Rochester  Regiment.. 

4 

67 

71 

0 

29 

29 

IOO 

*  *         T  *7             *  * 

14    First  Onondaga          .  .'     -i 

56 

60 

0 

44 

44      104 

1  /> 

16,  'Straw  Hats  of  History' 

T 

4 

107 

i  n 

1 

85 

86      197 

"    24,     " 

17,  Westchestcr  Chasseurs 

5 

3i 

36 

3 

29 

32        68 

18,  New  York  Rifles  

4 

34 

38 

i 

34 

35   I     73 

"    17,     " 

19,  First  Cayuga  

2 

31 

33 

0 

54 

54 

b7 

1    17. 

20,  German  Turners.    .  .  . 

7 

54 

61 

i 

60 

6  1 

122 

"     16, 

21,  Buffalo  Regiment  

74 

76 

2 

40 

42 

IlS 

June   6, 

22,  2d  New  York   Reg't.  . 

5 

31 

36 

3 

29 

32 

68 

May  21,     " 

27,  Union  Regiment.    .. 

2 

72 

74 

2 

70 

72 

146 

Of  the   thirty-eight  "Two    Years'   Regiments"  from  New  York  State, 
the  heaviest  losses  were  as  follows  : 

ist.     The  5th  Duryea  Zouaves (total  deaths)  220 

2d.      The  i6th  New  York  "  Straw  Hats," . 

3d.      The  34th  New  York  Regiment   

4th.     The  7th  Steuben  Regiment J49 

5th.    The  27th  New  York  Vols.,  Union  Regiment.  ..     "  146 


197 
162 


SURVIVORS'  ASSOCIATION, 

OF  THE  27x11  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS,  AND 
THE  FIRST  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VETERAN  CAVALRY. 

The  above  Association  has  been  organized  for  many 
years,  and  continues  to  hold  its  annual  reunions.  The  ob 
jects  of  the  organization  are :  The  promotion  of  fraternal 
feelings;  the  revival  of  old  memories  and  associations;  and 
the  collection  and  preservation  of  records  of  the  services 
rendered  by  these  two  regiments  during  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion. 

Each  honorably  discharged  survivor  whose  address  is 
known,  is  regularly  notified  of  the  meetings  of  the  Associ 
ation,  and  is  invited  to  become  a  member ;  and  to  each  is 
mailed  a  copy  of  the  printed  Proceedings  of  the  Reunions. 

Our  gatherings  are  notable  for  the  enjoyment  of  friendly 
fellowship  and  conversation  among  comrades  bound  to 
gether  by  memories  of  perils  and  privations,  encountered 
when  the  majority  were  boys,  or  in  the  first  years  of  man 
hood. 

The  dues  are  nominally  $1.00,  but  any  sum  that  the  com 
rade  is  able  to  pay  is  accepted  ;  and  there  is  no  accumula 
tion  of  back  dues. 

We  desire  to  have  the  name  of  every  survivor  on  the 
Roster  of  the  Association,  and  any  comrade  who  knows 
the  address  of  a  comrade  not  already  on  the  list  published 
in  the  Proceedings,  should  notify  the  Secretary.  Every 
comrade  of  the  2;th  should  also  make  an  effort  to  notify 
the  friends  of  deceased  comrades  that  a  History  of  the 
Regiment  has  been  published. 

Doubtless  the  reading  of  the  History  will  suggest  to 
some  of  the  comrades  many  interesting  incidents  that 
would  be  valuable  if  a  second  edition  should  be  published. 
These  should  be  noted,  and  sent  to  the  Secretary ;  also  any 
corrections  that  should  be  made. 


3OO  NEW    MATTER   FOR   A   SECOND    EDITION. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  of  the  officers  did  not 
respond  to  the  invitation  of  the  Publication  Committee,  to 
furnish  cuts  for  their  portraits  ;  and  also  that  it  was  impos 
sible  to  get  short  biographies  of  the  officers,  and  the  local 
history  of  each  company. 

It  is  hoped  that  this  additional  matter  may  yet  be  ob 
tained,  and  kept  in  the  records  of  the  Association. 

Address  C.  B.  FAIRCHILD,  Secretary, 

545   East  84th  Street, 

New  York  City. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Portrait  of  Major-Gen.  H.  W.  Slocum  (steel) Frontispiece. 

Badge  of  the  First  Division,  Sixth  Corps. Title  page. 

Map  of  the  Virginia  Campaigns iv> 

Portrait  of  Col.  H.  W.  Slocum 2 

Map  of  Washington  and  vicinity IO 

Portrait  of  Brigadier-Gen.  J.  J.  Bartlett 21 

Roll  Book  of  Co.  "  D  ". 34 

Revolver 34 

Portrait  of  Col.  Alexander  D.  Adams   45 

Portrait  of  Major  C.  C.  Gardiner 54 

Portrait  of  Capt.  H.   R.  White,  Co.  "  B  " 5° 

Map  of  Games'  Mill 5» 

Portrait  of  Capt.  Charles  A.  Wells,  Co  "  C  " 71 

Portrait  of  Lieutenant-Col.  J.  H.  Bodine 9° 

Portrait  of  Dr.  William  H.  Stuart 94 

Portrait  of  Capt.  H.  Seymour  Pierce,  Co  "  G  " 120 

Map  of  Fredericksburg I22 

Portrait  of  Major-Gen.  W.  B.  Franklin 123 

Portrait  of  Capt.  H.  C.  Rogers,  Co  "  D." 126 

Corps  Badges J4i 

Portrait  of  Major-Gen.  W.  T.  H.  Brooks 148 

Modes  of  Punishment J49 

Portrait  of  Capt.  Samuel  M.  Harmon,  Co.  "  I" 154 

Portrait  of  Captain  Burton    Freeman,  Co.  "  I  "    164 

Portrait  of  Lieut.  Henry  Hanington,  Co.  "  K  " . . , 168 

Portrait  of  Major-Gen.  John  Sedgwick r74 

Flag  of  the  27th  Regiment l8° 

Richmond  Prison  Association  Seal 203 

Richmond  Tobacco  Warehouse— Prison  No.  i 205 

Parish  Prison,  New  Orleans,  La. 2*8 

Salisbury  Prison 22° 

Returned  Prisoners    234 

Portrait  of  Dr.  Norman  S.  Barnes 244 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Preface   .  .    v. 

Introduction vii. 

CHAPTER    I. 

Organization  of  the  Regiment — Moved  to  Southport — Kicking  over  the 
Tables— Row  with  the  33d— Mustered  in  the  U.  S.  Service — Off  for 
Washington — First  Night  in  Camp  —  Target  Practice — On  to  Rich 
mond —  Bull  Run  Battle  —  Slocum  Wounded — Casualties — Bartlett's 
Report  of  Bull  Run — Porter's  Report i-iS. 

CHAPTER    II. 

Back  to  Camp  Franklin — To  Alexandria — Slocum  Promoted — Election  of 
Officers  —  Fort  Lyon — Camp  Clara  —  Winter  Quarters  —  Roster  of 
Franklin's  Division  —  Grand  Review — Execution  of  Johnson — Pris 
oners'  Return — Catlett's  Station — Return  to  Alexandria.  .......  19-30 

CHAPTER    III. 

To  Peninsula — West  Point — Death  of  Lieut.  Bailey — Franklin's  Report 
of  West  Point — Slocum's  and  Newton's  Reports — Roster  of  Sixth  Corps- 
Secession  Song — Col.  Bartlett  Promoted — Mechanicsville — Balloon  As 
cension — McClellan's  Order — Corduroy  Roads — Games'  Mill — A  Pris 
oner's  Account  —  Reports:  Slocum's,  Bartlett's,  Adams' — Change  of 
Base — Savage  Station — White  Oak  Swamp — Malvern  Hill — Harrison's 
Landing — Reports  :  Franklin's,  Slocum's — Wounded  Soldier's  Letter — 
Retreat  —  Leave  the  Peninsula  —  Dr.  Burr's  Letter  —  Second  Bull 
Run 31-87 

CHAPTER    IV. 

McClellan  Relieved  by  Pope — Reinstated — Maryland  Campaign — Battle 
of  Crampton's  Pass  —  Antietain  —  Reports:  McClellan's,  Franklin's, 
Slocum's,  Bartlett's,  Adams' — McClellan's  Farewell — Burnside  Takes 
Command — Belle  Plain — First  Battle  of  Fredericksburg — White  Oak 
Church— Talk  with  Rebel  Pickets— Roster  Sixth  Corps ...  89-126 

CHAPTER   V. 

Winter  Quarters — Soldiers'  Letters — Emancipation  Proclamation — Mud 
March — Hooker  Takes  Command — A  Woman's  Letter — Second  Fred- 
erickgburg — Star  Shot  out  of  the  Flag — Retreat — Final  Orders — Muster 
Out— The  Old  Flag— Battle  Hymn 127—181 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Prison  Life — Capture — Richmond,  New  Orleans  and  Salisbury  Prisons — 
List  of  Prisoners — Nursing  a  Wounded  Comrade — Hunger — Cruel 
Treatment — Bill  of  Fare — Prisoners  Shot  by  the  Guard — Close  Con 
finement — Long  Journey — Parole — Home ,  183-233 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS.  3°3 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Gen.  Slocum 237 

Gen.  Bartlett ;  • 

Col.  Alexander  D.  Adams. 24^ 

Major  Curtiss  C.  Gardiner 243 

Dr.  Norman  S.  Barnes 244 

Gen.  John  Sedgwick 249 

Gen.  W.  B.  Franklin 25» 

Roster 253 

Tabulated  Statements 293-297 

Notes  of  Survivors'  Association 299 


IE  IR,  IR  .A.  T  .A. . 


Page      6 — for  Sitgraves,  read  Sitgreives. 
"         7 — for  Rellay,  read   Relay. 
"       22 — for  Dr.  Mason,  read  Dr.  George  Mason. 

24 — for  Col.  John  Washington,  read  John  A.  Washington. 
"       29 — for  Brenton's,  read  Benton's  Tavern. 

53 — for  Col.  John,  read  Col.  Henry  Cake. 
"     104 — for  A.  J.,  read  N.  J.  Jackson. 

no — for  nth  of  August,  read  loth. 

119 — for  Mary's,  read  Marye's. 
"     150 — for  1862,  read   1863. 
"     185 — for  James,  read  Jonas  G.  Welhnan. 
"     196 — for  Co.  "I,"  read  Bond  of  Co.  "G." 
"     243— for  G.  O.,  read  A.  G.  O. 

"     267 — for  8,  after  the  name  of  Geo.  O.  Pratt,  read  18. 
"     268 — for  — ,  after  the  name  of  Samuel  Winchell,  read  21. 
"     269 — for  "hot"  by  rebel  scout,  read  shot  by  rebel  scout. 


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